Aries
Fire · Cardinal
Initiative through direct action. The emphasis is on beginning, pursuing and responding to a challenge.
- Zodiac longitude
- 0° to less than 30°
- Traditional ruler
- Mars
- Opposite sign
- Libra
The tropical zodiac
The 12 zodiac signs
A sign is a 30-degree section of the zodiac. Your chart places each planet within one of these sections. Compare the signs here, or calculate your own placements.
Find the signs in my chartThe signs in order
These themes describe Western astrological symbolism. Read the sign of each planet, not only the Sun.
Taurus
Earth · Fixed
Continuity through tangible value. The emphasis is on maintaining what is useful, dependable or enjoyable.
- Zodiac longitude
- 30° to less than 60°
- Traditional ruler
- Venus
- Opposite sign
- Scorpio
Gemini
Air · Mutable
Adaptation through ideas. Comparing accounts, asking questions and exchanging information keep a subject moving.
- Zodiac longitude
- 60° to less than 90°
- Traditional ruler
- Mercury
- Opposite sign
- Sagittarius
Cancer
Water · Cardinal
Initiative through care and belonging. The emphasis is on creating or protecting a familiar base.
- Zodiac longitude
- 90° to less than 120°
- Traditional ruler
- Moon
- Opposite sign
- Capricorn
Leo
Fire · Fixed
Continuity through personal expression. The emphasis is on sustaining a creative intention and giving it a recognizable form.
- Zodiac longitude
- 120° to less than 150°
- Traditional ruler
- Sun
- Opposite sign
- Aquarius
Virgo
Earth · Mutable
Adaptation through practical improvement. Sorting details and adjusting a method make something more useful.
- Zodiac longitude
- 150° to less than 180°
- Traditional ruler
- Mercury
- Opposite sign
- Pisces
Libra
Air · Cardinal
Initiative through relationship. The emphasis is on establishing agreements and considering another point of view.
- Zodiac longitude
- 180° to less than 210°
- Traditional ruler
- Venus
- Opposite sign
- Aries
Scorpio
Water · Fixed
Continuity through emotional commitment. The emphasis is on sustained involvement, privacy and questions of trust.
- Zodiac longitude
- 210° to less than 240°
- Traditional ruler
- Mars
- Opposite sign
- Taurus
Sagittarius
Fire · Mutable
Adaptation through wider experience. The emphasis is on connecting discoveries with beliefs about what matters.
- Zodiac longitude
- 240° to less than 270°
- Traditional ruler
- Jupiter
- Opposite sign
- Gemini
Capricorn
Earth · Cardinal
Initiative through structure. The emphasis is on organizing effort around responsibilities and longer-term aims.
- Zodiac longitude
- 270° to less than 300°
- Traditional ruler
- Saturn
- Opposite sign
- Cancer
Aquarius
Air · Fixed
Continuity through ideas and principles. The emphasis is on sustaining a system or a vision of collective life.
- Zodiac longitude
- 300° to less than 330°
- Traditional ruler
- Saturn
- Opposite sign
- Leo
Pisces
Water · Mutable
Adaptation through imagination and feeling. The emphasis is on responding to impressions and experiences with uncertain boundaries.
- Zodiac longitude
- 330° to less than 360°
- Traditional ruler
- Jupiter
- Opposite sign
- Virgo
Elements and modalities explain the differences
An element describes a mode of expression. A modality describes how that expression moves. Together they give each sign a different combination.
The 4 elements
- Fire
- Action, enthusiasm and the wish to express something.Aries · Leo · Sagittarius
The 3 modalities
- Mutable
- Adapts, revises or moves between approaches.Gemini · Virgo · Sagittarius · Pisces
Classification references: Astrology.com's elements and modalities.
Compare signs with a shared element
Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are all fire signs. Aries is cardinal: the reading emphasizes starting. Fixed Leo emphasizes sustaining expression. Mutable Sagittarius emphasizes expanding or revising a view through experience.
Now keep the modality fixed instead. Taurus sustains something tangible; Leo sustains expression. The same mode of action takes a different subject.
Check the calculated placement
Astriel uses the tropical zodiac. Its signs divide the circle into equal sections; astronomical constellations have different boundaries.
The calculator assigns signs from planetary longitude. If uncertain birth details span a sign change, the result shows the alternatives.
Find your Sun, Moon and rising sign
Read a degree within a sign
The full circle runs from 0 to 360 degrees. Aries starts at 0°. A position at 45° falls in Taurus, 15° after that sign begins.
The start of each range belongs to that sign. At 30°, a placement is at 0° Taurus. At 360°, the circle returns to 0° Aries.
Astriel's calculation methods · Astrodienst's zodiac reference
Learn to read your chart · See today's planetary positions
Born near a sign change?
A birth year and time can settle a boundary that a general date range cannot.
Check the twelve Sun sign boundariesFind your birthday
Compare the Sun position on your calendar date across birth years, with guidance for dates near a sign change.
Browse birthday dates