The 12 zodiac signs: dates, elements and meanings
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The zodiac is the band of sky the Sun, Moon and planets travel through. Astrology splits it into 12 equal signs of 30 degrees each. Your Sun sign is the sign the Sun was in on the day you were born. Here are all 12, with the dates the Sun enters each one this year, worked out from real planet positions.
Zodiac sign dates this year
Sign dates move by a day or so from year to year, because a calendar year is not exactly as long as the Sun's yearly loop. The table shows the exact moment (in UTC) the Sun enters each Western sign this year, and the date it enters the matching Vedic (sidereal) sign. If you were born on a changeover day, use our free birth chart tool with your birth time to be sure.
| Sign | Dates 2026 | Sun enters | Vedic sign and dates | Element | Mode | Ruler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | 20 Mar - 19 Apr | 20 Mar 14:46 UTC | Mesha: 14 Apr - 14 May | Fire | Cardinal | Mars |
| Taurus | 20 Apr - 20 May | 20 Apr 01:40 UTC | Vrishabha: 15 May - 14 Jun | Earth | Fixed | Venus |
| Gemini | 21 May - 20 Jun | 21 May 00:39 UTC | Mithuna: 15 Jun - 15 Jul | Air | Mutable | Mercury |
| Cancer | 21 Jun - 21 Jul | 21 Jun 08:27 UTC | Karka: 16 Jul - 16 Aug | Water | Cardinal | Moon |
| Leo | 22 Jul - 22 Aug | 22 Jul 19:15 UTC | Simha: 17 Aug - 16 Sep | Fire | Fixed | Sun |
| Virgo | 23 Aug - 22 Sep | 23 Aug 02:20 UTC | Kanya: 17 Sep - 16 Oct | Earth | Mutable | Mercury |
| Libra | 23 Sep - 22 Oct | 23 Sep 00:06 UTC | Tula: 17 Oct - 15 Nov | Air | Cardinal | Venus |
| Scorpio | 23 Oct - 21 Nov | 23 Oct 09:39 UTC | Vrishchika: 16 Nov - 15 Dec | Water | Fixed | Mars (modern: Pluto) |
| Sagittarius | 22 Nov - 20 Dec | 22 Nov 07:24 UTC | Dhanu: 16 Dec - 13 Jan | Fire | Mutable | Jupiter |
| Capricorn | 21 Dec - 19 Jan | 21 Dec 20:50 UTC | Makara: 14 Jan - 11 Feb | Earth | Cardinal | Saturn |
| Aquarius | 20 Jan - 17 Feb | 20 Jan 01:44 UTC | Kumbha: 12 Feb - 13 Mar | Air | Fixed | Saturn (modern: Uranus) |
| Pisces | 18 Feb - 19 Mar | 18 Feb 15:52 UTC | Meena: 14 Mar - 13 Apr | Water | Mutable | Jupiter (modern: Neptune) |
The four elements
Each sign belongs to one of four elements. Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) are linked with energy and enthusiasm. Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) are practical and steady. Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are about ideas and talk. Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) are about feelings and intuition.
Signs of the same element sit 120 degrees apart, which astrologers call a trine. That is why same-element signs are said to get on easily.
The three modes
Each element has one sign in each of three modes. Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) start each season and like to begin things. Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) sit in the middle of a season and like to keep going. Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) end a season and adapt well.
Western and Vedic signs
Western astrology ties the signs to the seasons: 0 degrees Aries is the March equinox. Vedic astrology ties them to the stars, so its signs are shifted by the ayanamsa, about 24.2 degrees today. That is why many people find their Vedic sign is one sign earlier than their Western one. Our guide to Vedic and Western astrology explains this in plain words.
Pick your sign
Each sign page has today's reading for Western and Vedic astrology, the sign's traits, its element and ruler, and a compatibility table.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 12 zodiac signs in order?
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. The order follows the Sun's path through the year, starting at the March equinox.
How do I know my zodiac sign?
Your Sun sign comes from your birthday. Find the date range in the table on this page. If you were born on the first or last day of a sign, the exact birth time decides it, and our free birth chart tool will tell you.
Why do zodiac sign dates change slightly each year?
The Sun's yearly loop takes about 365.24 days, so the moment it enters each sign shifts by some hours from one year to the next, and that can move the date by one day.
What is my Vedic zodiac sign?
Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is about 24.2 degrees behind the Western one today. Most people's Vedic Sun sign is the sign before their Western one. Vedic astrology also gives more weight to your Moon sign.
For reflection and fun, not fate. We explain astrology as a tradition and a tool for reflection. It has not been shown to predict events.