Zodiac; Belt around the heavens extending about 9° on either side of the ecliptic.
The orbits of the Moon and the major planets (except Pluto) lie entirely within the zodiac. In astrology, each of 12 constellations along this circle is considered to occupy 1/12 (30°) of it. The positions of the Sun and planets when a person is born and their motion through these constellations are said to exert influence on his or her life, though precession of the equinoxes has shifted the constellations eastward and the Sun no longer passes through them on the traditional dates: Aries, the ram (March 21–April 19); Taurus, the bull (April 20–May 20); Gemini, the twins (May 21–June 21); Cancer, the crab (June 22–July 22); Leo, the lion (July 23–August 22); Virgo, the virgin (August 23–September 22); Libra, the balance (September 23–October 23); Scorpius (see Scorpio), the scorpion (October 24–November 21); Sagittarius, the archer (November 22–December 21); Capricornus (see Capricorn), the goat (December 22–January 19); Aquarius, the water bearer (January 20–February 18); Pisces, the fish (February 19–March 20). Britannica Concis Encyclopedia
Egyptian Zodiac
Ophiuchus is the thirteenth zodiacal constellation that harbours the Sun during the course of the year, but is not counted as an astrological sign. The reason that Ophiuchus is not a part of the western astrological zodiac is because that zodiac is defined on the basis of the sun spending an equal amount of time in twelve astrological signs starting at the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere — this is called the tropical zodiac. These twelve signs correspond with the twelve apostles of Christ.There is also a sidereal zodiac, which is based on the actual location of the stars in the sky, and which is used by Hindu and some Western astrologers. At present, the sun is in Ophiuchus from November 30 to December 17. Some hold Ophiuchus as an avatar for Cernunnos, the Celtic serpent-bearing god who is also (though some might disagree) the basis for our modern image of the devil. Satan is indeed known as the rider on the serpent. Judas, sometimes called; the thirteenth apostle (being replaced by Matthew) was under the influence of Satan and this reference to Satan is the reason that there are only twelve Zodiacal signs.
