Reference
Zodiac Signs: Dates, Meanings and Traits
The twelve signs of the zodiac, in order from Aries to Pisces, with the dates, element, ruling planet and character of each. Not sure of yours? Enter your birthday.
The twelve
The 12 zodiac signs in order
At a glance
Zodiac sign dates, elements and rulers
| Sign | Dates | Element | Ruler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Mar 21 – Apr 19 | Fire | Mars |
| Taurus | Apr 20 – May 20 | Earth | Venus |
| Gemini | May 21 – Jun 20 | Air | Mercury |
| Cancer | Jun 21 – Jul 22 | Water | Moon |
| Leo | Jul 23 – Aug 22 | Fire | Sun |
| Virgo | Aug 23 – Sep 22 | Earth | Mercury |
| Libra | Sep 23 – Oct 22 | Air | Venus |
| Scorpio | Oct 23 – Nov 21 | Water | Mars · Pluto |
| Sagittarius | Nov 22 – Dec 21 | Fire | Jupiter |
| Capricorn | Dec 22 – Jan 19 | Earth | Saturn |
| Aquarius | Jan 20 – Feb 18 | Air | Saturn · Uranus |
| Pisces | Feb 19 – Mar 20 | Water | Jupiter · Neptune |
The elements
Fire, earth, air and water
The modalities
Cardinal, fixed and mutable
- Cardinal
- Cardinal signs start each season and like to start things: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn.
- Fixed
- Fixed signs sit in the middle of a season and keep things going: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius.
- Mutable
- Mutable signs end each season and adapt: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces.
Each sign is one element and one modality, which is why no two signs are alike: Aries is cardinal fire, Leo fixed fire, Sagittarius mutable fire.
Beyond the sun sign
Sun sign, moon sign and rising sign
Sun sign
The sign the Sun was in on your birthday, and the one your horoscope is written for. It describes your core character and what lights you up.
Find your sun signMoon sign
The sign the Moon was in when you were born. The Moon changes sign every two to three days, so it is often different from your sun sign. It describes your emotional needs.
Moon sign calculatorRising sign
The sign on the eastern horizon at the moment of your birth, also called the Ascendant. It changes every two hours or so and needs your birth time and place.
Rising sign calculatorAll three, plus every planet and house: the free birth chart calculator.
Questions about the zodiac signs
How many zodiac signs are there?
Twelve: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Each covers 30 degrees of the Sun’s yearly path, starting from the March equinox.
How do I know my zodiac sign?
Your zodiac sign, or sun sign, is the sign the Sun was in on your birthday. Enter your birth month and day in the finder above. If you were born on the first or last day of a sign, the exact changeover depends on the year, so a birth chart is the surest check.
What is the difference between sun, moon and rising signs?
Your sun sign comes from your birthday. Your moon sign is where the Moon was when you were born, and it changes every two or three days. Your rising sign is the sign on the eastern horizon at your birth time and place, and it changes about every two hours.
What do the elements mean in astrology?
Each sign belongs to one of four elements: fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) and water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). Signs of the same element are traditionally said to understand each other easily.
Sign descriptions are editorial, drawn from the long astrological tradition, and meant for reflection rather than prediction. Methodology