There are 12 zodiac signs, each covering about a month of the year. Your zodiac sign (also called your sun sign or star sign) is the sign the Sun was in on the day you were born. Here are all 12 signs in order, with dates, symbols, elements and what each is known for.
Zodiac signs and dates
| Sign | Dates | Symbol | Element | Modality | Ruling planet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | March 21 – April 19 | Ram | Fire | Cardinal | Mars |
| Taurus | April 20 – May 20 | Bull | Earth | Fixed | Venus |
| Gemini | May 21 – June 20 | Twins | Air | Mutable | Mercury |
| Cancer | June 21 – July 22 | Crab | Water | Cardinal | Moon |
| Leo | July 23 – August 22 | Lion | Fire | Fixed | Sun |
| Virgo | August 23 – September 22 | Maiden | Earth | Mutable | Mercury |
| Libra | September 23 – October 22 | Scales | Air | Cardinal | Venus |
| Scorpio | October 23 – November 21 | Scorpion | Water | Fixed | Pluto (traditionally Mars) |
| Sagittarius | November 22 – December 21 | Archer | Fire | Mutable | Jupiter |
| Capricorn | December 22 – January 19 | Sea-Goat | Earth | Cardinal | Saturn |
| Aquarius | January 20 – February 18 | Water Bearer | Air | Fixed | Uranus (traditionally Saturn) |
| Pisces | February 19 – March 20 | Fish | Water | Mutable | Neptune (traditionally Jupiter) |
The Sun changes signs on slightly different days each year. If your birthday is on the first or last day of a sign, check your exact placement with the free birth chart calculator.
The 12 zodiac signs in brief
Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19). Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and it acts like it: first to volunteer, first to speak up, first to get bored when things slow down. Keywords: bold, energetic, direct.
Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20). Taurus is the builder of the zodiac. Keywords: steady, sensual, loyal.
Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20). Gemini is the messenger of the zodiac: curious about everything, quick with words and happiest with several things going at once. Keywords: curious, quick, sociable.
Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22). Cancer is the caretaker of the zodiac. Keywords: caring, protective, intuitive.
Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22). Leo is the performer of the zodiac. Keywords: confident, generous, warm.
Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22). Virgo is the analyst of the zodiac. Keywords: analytical, helpful, precise.
Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22). Libra is the diplomat of the zodiac. Keywords: diplomatic, charming, fair.
Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21). Scorpio is the investigator of the zodiac. Keywords: intense, private, determined.
Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21). Sagittarius is the explorer of the zodiac. Keywords: adventurous, optimistic, honest.
Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19). Capricorn is the strategist of the zodiac. Keywords: ambitious, disciplined, responsible.
Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18). Aquarius is the innovator of the zodiac. Keywords: independent, original, humanitarian.
Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20). Pisces is the dreamer of the zodiac. Keywords: compassionate, imaginative, intuitive.
The four elements
- Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): energetic, expressive and driven by enthusiasm.
- Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): practical, steady and focused on what's real.
- Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): social, curious and driven by ideas.
- Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): emotional, intuitive and tuned in to feelings.
Signs of the same element tend to understand each other easily. Fire and air are traditionally a good mix, and so are earth and water.
The three modalities
- Cardinal (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn): signs that begin a season; they start things.
- Fixed (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius): signs in the middle of a season; they sustain things.
- Mutable (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces): signs that end a season; they adapt.
Each sign is a unique combination of one element and one modality. Leo, for example, is the only fixed fire sign.
Your sign is more than your sun sign
Your sun sign is one of three key placements:
- Sun sign: your core identity. This is the sign in the table above.
- Moon sign: your emotions and needs. Find it with the moon sign calculator.
- Rising sign: first impressions and your approach to life. Find it with the rising sign calculator.
Read how they work together in the big three in astrology.
Zodiac sign compatibility
Compatibility guides for each sign: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces. Or compare two birthdays with the compatibility test.
Astrology is a symbolic tradition, and these descriptions are for reflection and entertainment. Your whole chart, and your own choices, say far more than any single placement.
FAQ
What are the 12 zodiac signs in order?
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
What is my zodiac sign?
It's the sign whose dates include your birthday. If you were born on the first or last day of a sign, use a birth chart calculator to check, because the dates shift slightly each year.
What is the difference between a zodiac sign, sun sign and star sign?
They usually mean the same thing: the sign the Sun was in when you were born.
Is there a 13th zodiac sign?
Western astrology uses 12 signs that divide the year into equal parts based on the seasons, not the constellations. Ophiuchus is a constellation the Sun passes in front of, but it isn't one of the 12 astrological signs.
Which zodiac signs are compatible?
Traditionally, signs of the same element, plus fire with air and earth with water. A full chart comparison tells you more.