AMY SALISBURY
EDITOR IN CHIEF

Image courtesy of freddyo.com

People all over the world experienced an identity crisis early this year with the announcement of an alleged change in the zodiac. Capricorns became Sagittariuses, Libras became Virgos and Scorpios claimed only six days out of the year.
Some might find themselves wondering, how could the stars have suddenly made such a large shift as to garner recognition of another sign of the zodiac?
Robert Gill, an Astronomy professor here at Cal State San Marcos, offers educated answers to those questions that likely escaped the tabloid reporter, including scientific explanations regarding the importance of the signs of the zodiac. So, fear not, horoscope devotees. Your status of being a Cancer cusp or token Aries remains intact.
Amy Salisbury: Is the zodiac just a way to predict horoscopes, or are there other
scientific uses for it?
Prof. Robert Gill: There are 88 constellations in the sky.  The zodiac was originally
comprised of twelve of those constellations.  These were set up by the
Babylonians, Greeks etc., and were equally spaced around the sky following
the projected path of the sun [the ecliptic].
…In ancient times, most people were not educated and illiterate, including the rulers.  If one could predict
events, like eclipses, then that person would end up being the
counselor or adviser to the ruler, and a very powerful and rich person.
Since eclipses don’t happen every day, one needed to predict what would
happen in the future.  Astrology became important in foretelling [that]
future and horoscopes, based on the positions of the planets, helped
this pseudoscience flourish.
The Earth’s motions include a very slow wobble of its axis [called
precession].  This wobble is like a spinning top, which wobbles as it slows
down.  As a result of this motion, the Earth’s axis points to different
positions in the sky over its 26,000 year wobble period.  This slightly
changes the orientation of the suns path and alters the constellations the
sun appears to pass through.  In the several thousand years since the
original zodiac was established, the sun now passes through thirteen
constellations.  The additional one is the constellation “Ophiuchus.”
A.S.: What has actually changed?
R.G.: [There was] only an increased awareness of the current facts.
A.S.: So the stars have always been this way.
R.G.: Except for very slight changes in the position of the individual stars in
the constellation, due to their motion in the universe, they are
essentially the same as they have been for thousands of years.
A.S.: How should the public react to this news?
R.G.: Astrologers dismiss the fact that there is an additional zodiacal
constellation and still use the original twelve with the original dates.
They indicate that it’s the relationship with the other planets and their
alignments that is important.  However, the constellation that the sun is
in on the day your born is supposed to be your zodiacal sign.  So do you
use the actual constellation the sun is in or the original astrological
zodiac dates?  That choice is up to the individual.  Keep in mind that
[the zodiacal constellations] will be synchronized again in about 23,000 years.
A.S.: Why, in your opinion, has there been such a strong reaction to the
announcement?
R.G.: The Internet has expanded our knowledge base to make it very easy to
obtain a tremendous amount of information on any subject.  With the
numerous social networking capabilities now available, information is
spread much faster than in the past.  More people have this access and can
respond to that information.
A.S.: What is the importance of this discovery/announcement?
R.G.: Actually, nothing.  This “revelation” comes up every year or so.  It has
gotten more coverage this time because of the Internet.  I have been
telling my astronomy students about this fact for the last twenty years.