The Western zodiac

The zodiac, sign by sign

Twelve thirty-degree arcs of the sun's path, each with a name, an element and a ruling planet. The date ranges below are the ones printed everywhere, and they are approximations: the real boundary is an instant that drifts a little every year. Why the dates shift →

Fire

21 March – 19 April

Aries

Cardinal, ruled by Mars

23 July – 22 August

Leo

Fixed, ruled by the Sun

22 November – 21 December

Sagittarius

Mutable, ruled by Jupiter

Earth

20 April – 20 May

Taurus

Fixed, ruled by Venus

23 August – 22 September

Virgo

Mutable, ruled by Mercury

22 December – 19 January

Capricorn

Cardinal, ruled by Saturn

Air

21 May – 20 June

Gemini

Mutable, ruled by Mercury

23 September – 22 October

Libra

Cardinal, ruled by Venus

20 January – 18 February

Aquarius

Fixed, ruled by Saturn (Uranus in modern astrology)

Water

21 June – 22 July

Cancer

Cardinal, ruled by the Moon

23 October – 21 November

Scorpio

Fixed, ruled by Mars (Pluto in modern astrology)

19 February – 20 March

Pisces

Mutable, ruled by Jupiter (Neptune in modern astrology)

All twelve, at a glance

Sign	Approximate dates	Element	Modality	Ruler
Aries	21 March – 19 April	Fire	Cardinal	Mars
Taurus	20 April – 20 May	Earth	Fixed	Venus
Gemini	21 May – 20 June	Air	Mutable	Mercury
Cancer	21 June – 22 July	Water	Cardinal	the Moon
Leo	23 July – 22 August	Fire	Fixed	the Sun
Virgo	23 August – 22 September	Earth	Mutable	Mercury
Libra	23 September – 22 October	Air	Cardinal	Venus
Scorpio	23 October – 21 November	Water	Fixed	Mars / Pluto
Sagittarius	22 November – 21 December	Fire	Mutable	Jupiter
Capricorn	22 December – 19 January	Earth	Cardinal	Saturn
Aquarius	20 January – 18 February	Air	Fixed	Saturn / Uranus
Pisces	19 February – 20 March	Water	Mutable	Jupiter / Neptune

Two rulers are given where they differ: the planet assigned before the outer planets were discovered, and the modern assignment made afterwards.