The document discusses the possibility that the traditional zodiac signs used in astrology may no longer be accurate due to precession of the equinoxes. It notes that the constellations the sun was aligned with at the time of one's birth no longer match up with the months assigned to the 12 zodiac signs due to a shift over thousands of years. Some key points made include that a 13th zodiac sign called Ophiuchus is proposed to be added, which would result in some people previously thought to be one sign now being considered a different one. The document also discusses the history and origins of the traditional 12 zodiac signs and constellations, as well as concepts such as tropical
2. The Pathway of Enlightenment
“Our many new
discoveries uncovered
some of our greatest
mysteries leading me
down the path of
enlightenment, and all
the answers to my age
old questions became so
clear to me.”
~ Jaime Christine Brown
3. Zodiac Signs
No Longer Accurate
If your horoscope has never
made any sense to you, there
may be a good reason why – it
could be out of date.
Astronomers have called for
the zodiac signs to be
overhauled because they no
are no longer accurate.
The ancient Babylonians based
zodiac signs on the
constellation the sun was in on
the day a person was born.
4. Interesting Facts
The Sixth World began on December 12, 2011 AD
The Fifth World Ended December 21, 2011 BC
God took 6 days to create heaven and the earth
God took 1 day to rest
December 21, 2011
Winter Solstice
Nubruis Enters our Orbit
91 days between Solstice
Seasons change every 3 months
on the 1st day after is the Solstice
The Mayan Calendar ends on December 21, 2012
5. Table of Contents:
i. Why Change? Astrology p. 6
ii. The Zodiac p. 15
iii. Planet X Nibiru p. 19
iv. The Constellations p. 27
v. The Mysteries of the Number 13 p. 35
vi. Origin of Our Months The Roman Calendar p. 44
vii. The 13th Constellation Ophuchicus the snake holder p. 52
viii. Visible Constellations Sorted by Months p. 59
ix. 12 Signs of the Zodiac p. 72
x. The Signs of the Zodiac p. 81
xi. Reform Our Calendar p. 95
xii. Cycle of the Moon p. 114
xiii. The Sun p. 121
xiv. Measuring Time p. 126
xv. Where is the Truth? p. 130
xvi. My Proposed Calculation Reforms p. 137
7. Controversy
The proposed 13th star sign, Ophiuchus, is a
constellation in space and existing prints of its
symbol indicate it is a heavily muscled individual
holding a snake to the sky.
Those born under Ophiuchus are said to have lofty
ideals, enjoy longevity and are inventive. Those who
are currently Scorpio or Sagittarius could make the
switch.
The story has sparked controversy and debate
around the world and instantly became the most
popular topic of conversation on micro blogging site
Twitter, where some users were aghast at the
change in their fortunes.
8. THE Earth
The Earth 'wobbles' on its axis, so the star constellations we see
change over a cycle of 26,000 years
So it is irrelevant that the solsticial points (tropics) have drifted from
one constellation to another over time as the relationship is
symbolic.
Tropical astrology is mainly practiced in North America and Europe.
The alternative is Sidereal astrology, which is the Hindu system and
is also practiced by some western astrologers.
It is based on Earth's relationship with the stars, and therefore
zodiac signs against the actual sky.
An adjustment is made for the 'precession of the vernal equinox'.
This is the gradual shift in the orientation of Earth's axis of
rotation, which traces out a cone once every 26,000 years.
Therefore the dates of the zodiac signs change.
9. Phases of the Sun
The sun’s longitude:
0 at Vernal Equinox
90 at Summer Solstice
180 at Autumnal Equinox
270 at Winter Solstice
Time Span: 91 days apart
10. Shift in the Stars’
But during the thousands of years since, the moon's gravitational
pull has made the Earth shift on its axis and created a one-month
shift in the stars' alignment.
Astronomers are now proposing to move all the star signs back one
month and introduce a 13th star sign, Ophiuchus, to help readjust
the zodiac calendar.
The change will come as a shock to many who will discover they
have been reading the wrong star sign their entire lives - and will not
necessarily be happy with their new ones.
Those under dominant and creative Leo could now find themselves a
Cancer, which means they are moody and sensitive.
A passionate Scorpio could become a more diplomatic and balanced
Libra whilst if you were a Taurus, you could now find yourself a
stubborn Aires.
11. Astrology Terms
Astronomers
Study space and the stars
from a scientific viewpoint.
Astrologers
Write horoscopes and
claim, that celestial bodies
can give clues to
personality traits.
12. Astrology Systems
There are two major systems that control our zodiac
signs:
tropical astrology
sidereal astrology
Tropical astrology is based on Earth's relationship
with the Sun and the four seasons. Earth's
precession
It preserves the seasonal associations of the star
signs worked out by early astrologers by laying out
new horoscopes against a first-millennium sky.
13. Sidereal Astrology
Sidereal Astrology is more closely related to the
actual constellations.
Precession of the equinoxes moves the astrology
signs forward through the years, so in
Sidereal, Aries begins in April instead of March.
As an example, if you are a March Aries in
Tropical Astrology, then you are a Pisces in
Sidereal Astrology.
A Sidereal chart is not identical to a "Real Sky"
chart, but it is a whole lot closer than Tropical
charts.
16. The Roots of the Zodiac
Historically, people looked at the sky to understand the world
around us. But today I don't think people who are into astrology look
at the sky very much.’ The signs of the zodiac have roots in
mythology and relate to the legend of how the 12 Olympian gods
took animal shapes to flee the monster Typhon who was causing
havoc on Earth.
They date back to Roman and Babylonian times and are based on
the ecliptic, which is the path of the sun over the celestial sphere, or
imaginary path around the Earth for a year.
In the beginning your star sign was indeed determined by the
constellation in the sky that the sun lined up with at the time of your
birth.
Since then, however, astrologers have adopted a mathematically
equal division of the sky, so the position of the constellations is no
longer relevant.
17. Houses of the Sun
As revealed in the recent and comprehensive work, "History of the Zodiac," an in -depth
exploration of the origins of the Babylonian Zodiac and its location in the
ecliptic, originally a Ph.D. thesis, by Dr. Robert Powell (now published in 2007), the
division of the ecliptic into tropical astrological signs was originally a derivation of
Euctemon's tropical Calendar of Seasons (432 B.C.);
"...dividing the solar year into twelve equal months commencing with the vernal
equinox, in which each solar (tropical) month is named after one the twelve signs..."
(Powell). The tropical calendrical system (referenced from the vernal point) was merely
used as an astronomical coordinate system for measuring time in the solar year, at or
just after the time of Hipparchus.
Astrological qualities were later attributed to the twelve calendar months (tropical signs)
through the influence of Ptolemy, and the true (sidereal) zodiac, thus faded into
obscurity. Unfortunately the term "signs" had replaced "months."
The tropical calendar (tropical zodiac) was based upon the sun's declination above and
below the earth's equator, not the sun's ecliptical longitude. From an astrological
perspective, I suggest the tropical signs should be called "Houses of the Sun," more aptly
describing their true historical origin, as eloquently revealed in Robert Powell's work
"History of the Zodiac" (Sophia Academic Press, San Rafael, California 2007) --
recommended reading for all astrologers and astronomers.
18. The Zodiac Signs
The signs of the Zodiac are for the most part, the highway, or path
on which the Sun takes it's yearly journey across the heavens - as it
would appear to Earthlings.
These signs are actually star constellations occupying space in which
the Sun appears to travels in an earth year. The original twelve
signs/constellations:
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius,
Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are quite familiar to
everyone, however, the thirteenth sign and
constellation, [Ophiuchus], is in fact, not well known.
To acknowledge a 13th sign now would seem awkward for
astrologers, who like the tidiness of 12 signs that rule over the 12
houses of the Zodiac.
The heavens are alive and they do change after a few thousand years
and the astrologer who wants to maintain accuracy must change
along with the signs in the heavens.
21. Nubiru
Some authors believe that the
observations of ancient
astronomers provide proof
that Nibiru is an actual planet
or brown dwarf in our solar
system. These claims are for
the most part dismissed as
fringe science or
pseudoscience by the
mainstream scientific
communities of archaeology
and astronomy.
22. Sitchin’s Theory
The work of Zecharia Sitchin has garnered much attention among ufologists, ancient
astronaut theorists and conspiracy theorists. He claims to have uncovered, through
his retranslations of Sumerian texts, evidence that the human race was visited by a
group of extraterrestrials from a distant planet in our own Solar System.
Part of his theory lies in an astronomical interpretation of the Babylonian creation
myth, the Enuma Elish, in which he replaces the names of gods with hypothetical
planets. However, since the principal evidence for Sitchin's claims lies in his own
personally derived etymologies and not on any scholarly agreed interpretations, his
theories remain at most pseudoscience to the majority of academics.
Sitchin's theory proposes the planets Tiamat and Nibiru. Tiamat supposedly existed
between Mars and Jupiter. He postulated that it was a thriving world in a much
differently shaped solar system, with jungles and oceans, whose orbit was disrupted
by the arrival of a large planet or very small star (less than twenty times the size of
Jupiter) which passed through the solar system between 65 million and four billion
years ago. The new orbits caused Tiamat to collide with one of the moons of this
object, which is known as Nibiru. The debris from this collision are thought by the
theory's proponents to have variously formed the asteroid belt, the Moon, and the
current inclination of the planet Earth.
23. Origin of Nibiru
To the Babylonians, Nibiru was the celestial body or region sometimes
associated with the god Marduk. The word is Akkadian and the meaning is
uncertain. Because of this, the planet Nibiru is sometimes also referred to
as Marduk.
Sitchin hypothesizes it as a planet in a highly elliptic orbit around the
Sun, with a perihelion passage some 3,600 years ago and assumed orbital
period of about 3,750 years.
He also claims it was the home of a technologically advanced human-like
alien race, the Anunnaki, who allegedly visited Earth in search of gold.
These beings eventually created humanity by genetically crossing
themselves with extant primates, and thus became the first gods.
Beginning in 1995, websites such as ZetaTalk have identified Nibiru or
"Planet X" as a brown dwarf currently within our planetary system, soon to
pass relatively close to Earth affecting Earth's magnetics and causing
catastrophic damage. Sitchin disagrees.
24. History of Nibiru
Nibiru, in Babylonian Astronomy translates to "Planet of Crossing" or
"Point of Transition", especially of rivers, i.e. river crossings or ferry-
boats, a term of the highest point of the ecliptic, i.e. the point of
summer solstice, and its associated constellation. The establishment
of the Nibiru point is described in tablet 5 of the Enuma Elish. Its
cuneiform sign was often a cross, or various winged disc. The
Sumerian culture was located in the fertile lands between the
Euphrates and Tigris rivers, at the southern part of today's Iraq.
As the highest point in the paths of the planets, Nibiru was
considered the seat of the summus deus who pastures the stars like
sheep, in Babylon identified with Marduk. This interpretation of
Marduk as the ruler of the cosmos was identified as an early
monotheist tendency in Babylonian religion by Alfred Jeremias.
25. Almost 6,000 years ago,
the ancient Sumerians told of planet Nibiru existing in our solar system.
On the left, notice the sun with 9 planets around it.
Also notice the single planet in the center of this cylinder seal.
Why are the Sumerians looking at this planet?
In 1993, Planet X/Nibiru/Eris was approximately 50 billion miles from Earth.
26. Nibiru /Planet Eris
The real cause of climate changes, volcanoes
activity, intensification of the seismic activity
etc., is the planet Eris’s getting closer to our
solar system.
Intermediary named 2003 – UB – 313, and
known in Antiquity under various names as:
Nibiru, Marduk, Nemesis, Hercolubus, the
Gods Planet, the Planet of the Empire, the
Planet of the Cross or the Red Planet.
28. History of the Constellations
Ancient
Babylonians had
13
constellations, but
wanted only 12, so
threw out
Ophuchicus, the
snake holder.
29. The Constellations
The chart shows the fourteen
constellations along the
ecliptic. This chart shows the
movement of the vernal
equinox counterclockwise
along the path as seen from
Earth. Thirteen of the
constellations are on the
ecliptic. Only Orion is off the
ecliptic, and is beyond the
circle, or below the ecliptic
plane:
30. The figure above clearly shows the ecliptic passing through the 12 constellations, as well
as through Ophiuchus, and the ecliptic will also include Orion in a century or so. Clearly
there are 14 constellations one could consider, and while that is not the same thing as
14 signs, having 14 signs, and starting them with Aries, and the vernal equinox, is clearly
enriching to astrology, and still tropical astrology at its finest!
31. The 14th Constellation
What was the "curse" the Bible mentions, the curse that shall no longer be? Well, Jesus
once said that "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son
of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20) This will not be true forever, for
the constellation of the Son of Man, Orion, will eventually become part of the tree of
life, the Zodiac itself! And if you ever wondered why Jesus said that the Son of Man was
even "Lord of the Sabbath," (Mark 2:27-28) keep in mind that Orion's position is above
the Sun at the summer solstice, not below it, so the Son of Man will know on which day
the true Sabbath falls, because Orion is even Lord of the Sabbath (Sun)!
So you see, there are truly thirteen constellations (and signs) of the Zodiac, not
twelve, and the last and fourteenth constellation is the Coming One: Orion the
Hunter, the Mighty Man of all ages!
32. Biblical Astrology Associations
While most of these pearly gates are nothing new to traditional astrologers, who probably
know of them even outside their biblical astrology associations, one cannot help but
notice the pearly gates associated with Orion and Ophiuchus. The Son of Man in the
Gospels can be traced to the constellation Orion which represents Jesus' Spirit. Daniel
7:13-14 describes Jesus quite well:
I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son
of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the
peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Daniel's description of the Son of Man fits the pattern of stars in the constellation Orion!
Orion is the most brilliant of all the constellations, and contains 78 stars. Even the Son of
Man has the same dominating presence. In the book of Revelation the Lamb refers to
Jesus as well, but despite the mention of the Twelve Gates of the great celestial city (the
traditional pearly gates), the Lamb is not Aries as one might think, or even Capricorn, but
actually Orion, while the "glory of God," also mentioned, refers to the constellation of
Ophiuchus.
33. Revelations
Revelation 22:1-3 makes a connection between Ophiuchus and Orion, just as a
connection between the two exists even in Greek mythology:
He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of
God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that
was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The
leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will be no curse any more.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.
The "river of water of life, clear as crystal," is the Milky Way, which runs under the feet
of Ophiuchus and over the outstretched arm of Orion! Orion is the sacrificed "Lamb,"
who will come again to sit at the right hand of the Father after he has passed through
the valley of death (the Parousia or Second Coming).
The connection between the sign of Orion and the coming redeemer is therefore quite
strong, and Ophiuchus speaks of a much greater physician than even Jesus himself.
Notice also the prophecy in the verses above, that both the throne of God (the sign of
Ophiuchus) and the Lamb (the sign of Orion) shall be in it (the tree of life), shall
become part of the Zodiac itself!
34. The 13th Constellation Ophiuchus
The constellation, Ophiuchus, has been known since ancient times, and
is better known as Serpentarius, the Serpent Holder. It is included in the
list of 48 constellations described by Ptolemy. Ophiuchus is depicted as
a man handling a serpent; his body dividing the large snake into two
parts, giving way to the symbol used today as an Asclepius - the medical
staff.
Astrologers have not included Ophiuchus in the wheel of Astrological
signs because the Sun spends only about nineteen days in this 13th sign
of the Mazzaroth. Not that there wasn't a 13th sign in the Heavens, but
as far as Astrologers were concerned, the Sun traveled from the
constellation 'Scorpius' and then proceeded directly into the sign of
Sagittarius.
In reality, this was not the case. It is believed that, the Sun, for 19 days
of the year, travels through the star constellation 'Ophiuchus' before
entering Sagittarius from Scorpius. thus The sign of Ophiuchus is
patterned after the original 'Serpent Holder', Enki, a Sumerian god.
36. Lucky Number 13
The moment I heard we found a 13 th
planet, and astrologist presented the 13 th
Zodiac sign, I started researching and begin
finding the missing pieces to the great
jigsaw puzzle.
Once I figured out the importance of the
number 13, I had a moment of clarity I
knew I must share with all of you!
37. Thirteen
The Sun move through
thirteen constellations of
stars every year.
The Moon orbits around the
Earth thirteen times in one
year
The Moon moves thirteen
times faster than the Earth.
38. 13 Lunar Cycles
In fact, there are other calendars and zodiacs
that still honor the feminine nature of the
lunar cycles.
We are familiar with the Chinese zodiac that
follows the moon cycles each year.
However, some cultures (including some
present day Hindus) still pay attention to the
lunar cycles and the monthly constellations
along the zodiac belt -- of which there are 13.
39. 13 Months
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
Mercedinus
40. 13 Zodiac Signs
According to the Minnesota Planetarium Society
Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries: April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29-Dec. 17.
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.
41. 13 Constellations
Capricorn
Astrology has had Aquarius
issues from its Pisces
inception.
Aries
Ancient Babylonians Taurus
had 13 Gemini
constellations, but Cancer
wanted only 12, so Leo
threw out Virgo
Ophuchicus, the snake Libra
holder. Scorpio
Libra didn't even enter Ophiuchus
the picture, until the Sagittarius
era of Julius Caesar.
43. 13 Apostles
The original twelve disciples/apostles are listed in Matthew 10:2-4, “These
are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and
his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and
Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of
Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who
betrayed Him.” The Bible also lists the twelve disciples/apostles in Mark
3:16-19 and Luke 6:13-16. A comparison of the three passages shows a
couple of minor differences in the names. It seems that Thaddaeus was
also known as “Judas, son of James” (Luke 6:16) and Lebbaeus (Matthew
10:3). Simon the Zealot was also known as Simon the Canaanite (Mark
3:18).
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, was replaced in the twelve apostles by
Matthias (see Acts 1:20-26). Some Bible teachers view Matthias as an
“invalid” apostle, and believe that Paul was God's choice to replace Judas
Iscariot as the twelfth apostle.
45. History of The Roman Calendar
March (the first month)
Both Ovid and Plutarch said that Martius, originally the first month, was named after
Mars, the Roman god of war.
April
When writing about April, Ovid said "I have come to the fourth month”
Plutarch said that Numa, the king who followed Romulus, made January the first month of
the year and made February the last. One historian assigns that action an exact date by stating
that "January and February were added to an original Roman calendar of only ten months in
713 B.C.E.”
January (at the end of the year)
There was also disagreement in Ovid’s day as to the sequence and time at which Januarius
and Februarius were added to the original ten months.
February (at the end of the year)
Apparently Februarius, when adopted, had but 23 days – traditionally the 23rd day of that
month was the end of the calendar year. That indicates Februarius was observed in pre-
Romulan times when months had as few as twenty days. Also, adding five days at year -end (to
extend February’s length to 28) is similar to the change made by many other peoples
who, around the time of Rome’s founding, added five days to their own calendar, but
considered them to be unlucky and not part of the normal year.
46. Beginning of the Roman Calendar
At the time of their early kings, Roman months were of a length identical to the
lunar cycle. Each month was divided into sections that ended on the day of one of
the first three phases of the moon: new, first quarter or full. All days were referred
to in terms of one of these three moon phase names, Kalends, Nones or Ides.
At that time a pontifex (priest) was assigned to observe the sky. When he first
sighted a thin lunar crescent he called out that there was a new moon and declared
the next month had started. For centuries afterward, Romans referred to the first
day of each month as Kalendae or Kalends from the Latin word calare (to announce
solemnly, to call out). The word calendar was derived from this custom.
In 45 B.C.E., Romans modified their method of marking time to keep it in phase with
seasons, but not require intercalation of an extra month. They accomplished this
with the Julian Calendar. Month lengths were extended to bring the calendar’s total
to 365 days, making it truly solar. This change was accompanied by addition of an
extra day every fourth year (after February 23rd) because of the almost six extra
hours beyond 365 days in a tropical year.
47. What were the Roman months?
Much of the knowledge we now have about early Roman calendars came
from Ovid, a Roman born in 43 B.C.E., and from Plutarch, a Greek
biographer who wrote between C.E. 105 and 115. Both of them had access
to historical documents that are no longer extant. Ovid claimed that his
information was "dug up in archaic calendars," so it was already ancient
over two thousand years ago.
We can assume that the Roman calendar was brought from their birthplace
by Rome’s original citizens. Initially, it contained only ten months. It has
been suggested that those month lengths reflected growth cycles of crops
and cattle. When compared with the solar year, it had an uncounted winter
period of approximately sixty days.
Plutarch said that months at the time of Rome’s founding were of varying
lengths, some as short as twenty days and others with thirty-five or more
in what early Romans believed was a year of three hundred and sixty days.
Romulus, the legendary first king, was said to have made extensive changes
to those month lengths, assigning twenty-nine days to some and thirty-one
to others.
48. Original 10 Months
• The months bore the names:
Martius
Aprilis
Maius
Juniius
Quintilis
Sextilis
September
October
November
December
• The last six names correspond to the Latin words for the numbers 5 through 10.
49. What is the origin of the names of the months?
• Month Latin Origin
• January Januarius Named after the god Janus.
• February Februarius Named after Februa, the purification festival.
• March Martius Named after the god Mars.
• April Aprilis Named either after the goddess Aphrodite or the Latin word aperire, to open.
• May Maius Probably named after the goddess Maia.
• June Junius Probably named after the goddess Juno.
• July Julius Named after Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.E. Prior to that time its name was Quintilis from
the word quintus, fifth, because it was the 5th month in the old Roman calendar.
• August Augustus Named after emperor Augustus in 8 B.C.E. Prior to that time the name was Sextilis
from the word sextus, sixth, because it was the 6th month in the old Roman calendar
• September From the word septem, seven, because it was the 7th month in the old
Roman calendar.
• October October From the word octo, eight, because it was the 8th month in the old Roman calendar.
• November From the word novem, nine, because it was the 9th month in the old Roman Calendar
• December December From the word decem, ten, because it was the 10th month in the old
Roman calendar.
50. The Original Roman Calendar
The original Roman calendar appears to have consisted only of 10 months and of a
year of 304 days. The remaining 61¼ days were apparently ignored, resulting in a
gap during the winter season. The months bore the names Martius, Aprilis, Maius,
Juniius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, and December–the last
six names correspond to the Latin words for the numbers 5 through 10.
The Roman ruler Numa Pompilius is credited with adding January at the beginning
and February at the end of the calendar to create the 12-month year. In 452 B.C.E.,
February was moved between January and March.
By the 1st century B.C.E., the Roman calendar had become hopelessly confused.
The year, based on cycles and phases of the moon, totaled 355 days, about 10¼
days shorter than the solar year. The occasional intercalation of an extra month of
27 or 28 days, called Mercedonius, kept the calendar in step with the seasons. The
confusion was compounded by political maneuvers.
The Pontifex Maximus and the College of Pontiffs had the authority to alter the
calendar, and they sometimes did so to reduce or extend the term of a particular
magistrate or other public official.
Finally, in 46 B.C.E., Julius Caesar initiated a thorough reform that resulted in the
establishment of a new dating system, the Julian calendar.
51. The Month Mercedinus
Plutarch wrote: "Numa...added an intercalary month, to follow
February, consisting of twenty-two days, and called by the Romans
the month Mercedinus. This amendment, however, itself, in course
of time, came to need other amendments." (When observed, that
leap month always immediately followed February 23.)
Others claim that it wasn’t until 452 B.C.E. that a month named
Intercalaris was added to the Roman calendar in order to add those
days required to bring calendar length back into phase with the solar
year. This month also began after the 23rd day of Februarius. It was
observed every second year and was said to have had a length of
either 22 or 23 days, with the remaining five days of Februarius
added after them.
52. The 13 th Constellation
OPHUCHICUS
THE SNAKE HOLDER
53. The Constellation of Ophiuchus
The constellation of Ophiuchus is the only sign of the Zodiac, which
is linked to a real man. This man lived in ancient Egypt around the
27th century BCE, and his name was Imhotep [again patterned after
Enki].
Many of the same attributes of Imhotep can also be found in the
Biblical Hebrew man Joseph, son of Jacob. Imhotep is credited with
many accomplishments including the knowledge and use of
medicine.
It is said of Imhotep that he brought the art of healing to mankind.
The symbol of a serpent [or snake], which is still widely used today
to represent the medical profession, was used to represent
Imhotep. Imhotep was also known as 'Aesclepius' to the ancient
Greeks, but by any name the attributes are still all the same.
55. OPHIUCHUS traits
interpreter of dreams, vivid premonitions
attracts good luck and fruitful blessings
serpent holder, lofty ideals
a seeker of peace and harmony
doctor of medicine or science, natural-pathic
adds, increases, joins, or gathers together
poetical, inventive nature, expanding qualities
seeks higher education and wisdom
overseer, supervisor of work
56. OPHIUCHUS traits (continued 2)
the number twelve holds great significance
foresight and good fortune to benefit from hard times
has secret enemies in family or close associations
many jealous of this subject
notable father, apple of father's eye when young
high position in life expected [depending on aspects]
highest fame and legend comes after death
feelings of granular, wise, genius mentality
likes to wear clothing of vibrant colors, and plaids in particular
57. OPHIUCHUS traits (continued 3)
architect, builder
reaches for the stars, figuratively and literally
tax assessor, or tax collector
astrological talents, intuitive
large family indicated, but apt to be separated when young
longevity, aspirations of healing the ills of man
fame - either grand, or completely misunderstood
receives the favor of those in authority
58. Other Facts
Compatible With:
Pisces, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn and other Ophiuchus
Lucky Number:
12
Lucky Color:
Purple, and patterns including plaid
Lucky Stone:
Apatite
73. 12 Zodiac Sun Signs
• The Zodiac was made up of 12 different sun signs.
Aries - March 21 - April 20
Taurus - April 21 - May 21
Gemini - May 22 - June 21
Cancer - June 22 - July 22
Leo - July 23 -August 21
Virgo - August 22 - September 23
Libra - September 24 - October 23
Scorpio - October 24 - November 22
Sagittarius - November 23 - December 22
Capricorn - December 23 - January 20
Aquarius - January 21 - February 19
Pisces - February 20- March 20
74.
75. Astrological Cusps
If you were born between certain days in the month,
you are on the cusp. You could attribute both signs.
Capricorn/Aquarius Cancer/Leo
between 17-22 January between 19-24 July
Aquarius/Pisces Leo/Virgo
between 16-22 February between 18-25 August
Pisces/Aries Virgo/Libra
between 19-23 March between 18-23 September
Aries/Taurus Libra/Scorpio
between 18-26 April between 19-23
Taurus/Gemini Scorpio/Sagittarius
between 18-22 May 19-24 November
Gemini/Cancer Sagittarius/Capricorn
between 19-24 June between 19-23 December
76. Mayan Zodiac
Mayan worship spread the 260-day-Tzolken-sacred-year amongst polytheism. Numbered day
signs from 1 to 13 associate with animal god names in the Maya glyph language. The ecliptic
marks the double-headed serpent path of the Mayan zodiac. According to the Paris
codex, Mayan god animals were in position at the time of the vernal equinox in 3113 B.C.E. or
the presumed starting date of the Mayan Calendar. Of course, not all 13 constellations in the
zodiac were visible together. Only four constellations were viewable while the other nine
were below the horizon in the nether underworld. Known parts of the zodiac appear in a
manner that compare with other zodiacs. Scorpio equates with the scorpion. Gemini appears
related to a pig. Mayan turtle stars form sections of the Gemini and Orion constellations. The
ecliptic ends with the rattlesnake tail we call the Pleiades. The Pleiades rest midway between
Aries and Taurus. Aries is the Jaguar god, Leo is a frog and finally Scorpion. Dual Mayan
Calendar years worked like meshed gears to perform one 52-year Calendar Round that has
18,980-days. Counterpart to the 360-day-Tun-year was the 260-day-Tzolken-sacred-year.
Continuation of religious festivals has preserved beliefs surrounding the zodiacal Tzolken.
The ancient Mesoamerican Tzolken zodiac includes the constellation Ophiuchus according to
many archeo-astrologists. Obscure ties with Sumerian or Babylonian zodiacs entwine
Ophiuchus with Creation tales of Tiamut, Enki and Marduk - Jupiter. Ophiuchus is the hidden
constellation.
77. Sumerian Zodiac
The Sumerian zodiac had only six houses or star groups. The first
house is rising when the seventh house is setting in the west, so six
houses are visible at night.
Sumerians spaced their houses some 60-degrees apart or about 60-
days during the course of a year instead of today’s 30-day monthly
division.
Sumerians cast the first spiritual underpinnings that relate
astrological positions to governing events in the future. National
affairs such as war, drought and a plentiful harvest were the
concerns of original astrology.
Priests advised the king and other ruling authorities when and how
to act in order to appease the gods. The sky heaven “An” had a
masculine nature. Earth “Ki” had a feminine nature and together An
and Ki bore “Enlil.” Enlil was the god of the air, who ruled over the
“lil” wind or atmosphere.
78. Babylonian Zodiac
Babylonian astrology-astronomy provides clues we need to study 360-day-Tun-years in more detail and
bridge the gap between Mayan and Jewish Calendars. Consider looking at the zodiac on the vernal
equinox.
Babylonian astronomer priests established a standard set of 18 constellations along and around the
ecliptic as early as 2,000 B.C.E.
Stars outside the zodiac belt were useful for orientation purposes. Babylonian astronomer priests later
divided the year into 12 star constellations. Dawn heliacal risings for each sign were separate by about 30-
days. Precision involved erecting fixed sacred pillars called Baals in the Old Testament for observation
purposes.
Egyptian and early Babylonian zodiacs had 36 Decans or star groups, which were separated by about 10-
days during the year.
Babylonian worship divided the starry sky into three different bands around 3,000 B.C.E. The northern
band was the Path of Anu. Winter constellations correspond primarily with the Path of Anu. Our latitude
limits the stars we see with respect to the Tropic of Capricorn. Extending the equator into space creates a
mathematical plane that aligns with the celestial equator. Babylonians replaced the earth-mother
Sumerian “Ki” with “Ea.” From eastern to western horizons, the central Path of Ea identifies our modern
celestial equator. To the south is the Path of Enlil band. Latitude position again limits the stars seen in the
summer sky with respect to the Tropic of Cancer. Calendar months reckon 30-days according to the rule of
“three stars each.” Each Decan star was from a different band in the sky. Carved figures often represent
sprits for each of the 36 Decan stars. A new Decan star rose about every 10-days. The Decans were
mighty, great gods. Decan stars were companions and guides to help the deceased. Some stars bestowed
blessings while others were hostile or adverse.
79. Mesoamerican Zodiac
Mesoamerican Calendars distinguish a visible nighttime sky that divides the 260 -day-Tzolken-sacred-year
zodiac into 13 animal constellations. The ecliptic or celestial equator subsequently determines the
Tzolken part of the Mayan Calendar. Half of 36 Decan stars are the visible 18 Decan stars during 6-months
of either winter or summer. The other 18 Decan stars belong to the opposing 6-months and are below the
horizon.
By 1,200 B.C.E., Mesoamerican Olmecs concerned themselves with 13 visible astrological signs of a 260 -
day-Tzolken-sacred-year. The 360-day-Tun-year and 365-day-Haab-years are later additions to the
Mesoamerican Calendars. The ecliptic pathway eventually replaced the central Path of Ea as reference to
divide the Semitic sky by a factor of three. Reducing the Sumerian-Babylonian numbering system from
sexagesimal (base 60) to the later Mesoamerican vigesimal (base 20), infers that Mesoamerica 360 -day-
Tun-years were using 20-degree houses for their astrological signs. Each astrological Uinal continued to
have three Decan stars in the tribal Tun schema of 18 Uinals. The Mesoamerican zodiac supplants the 12 -
house Sumerian-Babylonian zodiac that had three Decan stars each.
The Mayan Calendar 360-day-Tun-year answers for 18 Uinals multiplied by 20-days each. Compared with
Semitic cosmology, the Mayan moon goddess seems like the Venus Ishtar goddess of rebirth and fertility.
As the moon goddess moved through 13 sacred signs and 18 star groups coincident with 18 tribes, she
held the fertility profile of a “Rabbit in the Moon.”
Mesoamerican cultures may have alternatively adapted the Babylonian Eighteen Stars Path of the Moon
to the ecliptic that marks apparent motions of the sun and moon.
80. The Greek Zodiac
The Greek zodiac 2,000-years ago borrowed 12 astrological
sign names from 12 astronomical constellations.
Greco-Roman zodiacs consistently lay along the ecliptic.
Concordance with the Egyptian zodiac has shown the ecliptic
was a focus for astral worship.
Today, there are several different permutations of the zodiac
and personal horoscopes are an outgrowth resource once
reserved for kings and leaders.
82. Aries (March 21 - April 19)
At the two equinoxes, the sun crosses the celestial equator in the
spring and fall. Mars was the Roman god of war, and equates to the
Greek god Ares.
Spelled Aries by modern English, the sun rises in Aries for a month
beginning at the spring equinox.
The Pleiades are seven stars that once marked the New Year by
advancing the zodiac to the next sign of Taurus.
Greek architecture featured the seven sisters facing east. The Porch
of the Seven Maidens honors the feminine deities that appeared on
the cusp separating Aries and Taurus.
The Porch of the Seven Sisters attaches to the famed Parthenon
Temple of Athena. Located high atop the Acropolis hill outside of
Athens, the Greek home of the gods served tribute to the stars.
83. Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus is the zodiacal constellation that includes the
star Aldebaran as the right eye of the bull.
Taurus is charging Orion in the night sky.
Aldebaran was one of the four "royal stars" said to
rule over the heavenly quarters of the year. The Book
of Enoch I alleges the four royal stars preside over all
of creation. Aldebaran presided over the first quarter.
The face of Taurus, horns, and shoulders are visible
amongst the other stars in heaven. A cloud cuts off
the body of Taurus to allow space for other figures.
84. Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
Gemini is named for the twin stars of Castor and Pollux.
Cardinal points of the year were the two equinoxes and
the two solstices. The summer solstice near June 21
earmarks the end of the zodiacal constellation Gemini.
Describing the duality of the solstices, Gemini twins often
face opposite directions. Gemini twins and the two faces
of Janus look opposite to symbolize facing the past and
future.
The month of June comes to us from the Latin Junii or
gens.
Several families of a house or clan sharing a common
ancestor provide the meaning behind the sixth month.
85. Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Cancer the mythical Crab Nebula, was easily visible some 2,500 years
ago when it was farthest north and marking the solar rising position
at the beginning of summer.
Located between Gemini and Leo, the Crab Nebula was equal to
Jupiter in brightness about the year 1,000 A.D.
Due to calendar changes and the procession of the equinoxes, the
sun does not pass near this beehive cluster until around 1 August.
From Cancer, the Tropic of Cancer marks the imaginary maximum
latitudinal solstice line of 23.5 degrees to the North above the
Equator.
The Tropic of Capricorn is the latitudinal solstice line of 23.5 degrees
to the South of the Equator.
86. Leo (July 23 - August 22)
Leo is the zodiacal sign and constellation for the lion.
Both the bull and the lion had significance in Babylonian
mythology. Six stars form the sickle of Leo.
The brightest star, Regulus, is at one end of the handle. Regulus
was a royal star that ruled over the second quarter of the
ancient year.
The lion probably represented summertime heat in
Mesopotamia and the kingly qualities found in leaders.
Julius and Augustus chose to insert their named months under
the sign of Leo.
87. Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
Virgo, the virgin goddess, denotes the sign and constellation of
Astraea.
Man's increasing complexity caused the Greek virgin goddess
of justice to leave the Earth when she felt no longer needed.
Linked to Phoenician Astarte, she represented the Earth -
mother fertility issue by announcing the fall harvest.
The last four months of the old Roman Calendar had numerical
names. Sept is the Latin prefix for the seventh month, in
September of the former Roman year.
88. Libra (September 23 - October 23)
Libra opposes the spring equinox in the center of the zodiac.
The balance scales show the distinction of the autumnal
equinox. From the Latin, Libra means balance and symmetry.
During the equinox 2,000-years ago, the sun crossed the
celestial equator, or ecliptic near to Libra.
The beginning of autumn has drifted westward into Virgo. Libra
depicts scales for the goddess of justice, Virgo.
Libra has been the claws of Scorpio.
Libra owes its importance to the position held in the zodiacal
circle. Octo is the Latin prefix that describes October as the
eighth month.
89. Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
Scorpio is the constellation for the scorpion and the first of the
watery signs.
Probably, the watery signs once marked the rainy season of
Mesopotamia.
Scorpio is the eighth constellation of the zodiac belt.
Scorpio lies between Libra and Sagittarius and contains the
brilliant red star Antares. Antares is the royal star that once
marked the fourth quarter of the year.
Novem resulted in the ninth month, November.
90. Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
Sagittarius is the celestial archer in the heavens.
Pictured as a centaur, Sagitta translates from the Latin phrase
to represent an arrow.
Sagittarius is also a traveler, or an explorer, whose arrow aims
at the scorpion.
Deca provided December for the tenth and last 36-day month
in the former year.
91. Capricorn (December 22 - January 20)
Capricorn is related to the festival Saturnalia of the Romans.
The goat constellation is named from the Latin Caper or goat, plus
the Cornu, which means horn.
The mythological animal has the body of a horse, or goat, with
usually a single horn pointing outward from the forehead.
The sun enters Capricorn on the winter solstice, or about December
22 in our Gregorian Calendar.
Saturnalia attached Capricorn to Saturday in the early Roman
Calendar of 10-months. Saturday ends the week and Saturnalia once
ended the year.
In the Julian 12-month calendar, Capricorn began the New Year after
360-days by adding the last 5-days. A year of 365-days in the
original Julian system completes on December 31.
92. Aquarius (January 21 - February 19)
Aquarius is the famed water bearer sign that pours the water
upon the ground so that the crops will grow.
The named watery constellations of the zodiac include
Capricornus, the sea goat, followed by Aquarius, the careless
water carrier and dominant figure of the watery zodiacal
scene.
Aquarius spills the water urn to mark an irregular stream of
dim stars.
The waters of life descend into the mouth of the Southern Fish
or Pisces.
93. Pisces (February 20 - March 20)
Pisces is the last watery sign and the last constellation in the
annual zodiac.
Two imaginary fish tie together with a long ribbon, knotted at
either end or center.
The bright Pisces Austrinus star is a first magnitude star and
the brightest in the watery constellations.
Called Fomalhaut and pronounced Fo-mal-hut, the name is
corruptive of the Arabic Fum al Hut, meaning the mouth of the
fish.
The cord ties together one fish before the upcoming equinox
and the other for the dual end of the equinox that leads into
Aries and the new zodiacal year.
96. Why Change Our Calendar?
The Gregorian calendar, as used for civil purposes, is an international standard. It is a solar
calendar, meaning that it is designed to maintain synchrony with the tropical year. It has a cycle of 400 years
(146,097 days). Each cycle repeats the months, dates, and weekdays. The average year length is
146,097/400 = 365+97/400 = 365.2425 days per year, a close approximation to the tropical year.
(Seidelmann, 1992, pp. 576–81)
The Gregorian calendar is a reformed version of the Julian calendar. By the time of the reform in 1582, the
date of the vernal equinox had shifted about 10 days, from about March 21 at the time of the First Council
of Nicaea in 325, to about March 11. According to North, the real motivation for reform was not primarily a
matter of getting agricultural cycles back to where they had once been in the seasonal cycle; the primary
concern of Christians was the correct observance of Easter. The rules used to compute the date of Easter
used a conventional date for the vernal equinox (March 21), and it was considered important to keep March
21 close to the actual equinox. (North, 1983, pp. 75–76)
If society in the future still attaches importance to the synchronization between the civil calendar and the
seasons, another reform of the calendar will eventually be necessary. According to Holford -Strevens (who
used Newcomb's value for the tropical year) if the tropical year remained at its 1900 value of
365.24219878125 days the Gregorian calendar would be 3 days, 17 min, 33 s behind the Sun after 10,000
years. Aggravating this error, the length of the tropical days (measured in Terrestrial Time) is decreasing at a
rate of approximately 53 s per 100 tropical years. Also, the mean solar day is getting longer at a rate of
about 1.5 ms per 100 tropical years. These effects will cause the calendar to be nearly a day behind in 3200.
A possible reform would be to omit the leap day in 3200, keep 3600 and 4000 as leap years, and thereafter
make all centennial years common except 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000, etc. The effects are not sufficiently
predictable to form more precise proposals. (Blackburn & Holford-Strevens, 2003, p. 692)
Borkowski (1991, p. 121) states "because of high uncertainty in the Earth's rotation it is premature at
present to suggest any reform that would reach further than a few thousand years into the future." He
estimates that in 4000 the Gregorian year (which counts actual solar days) will be behind the tropical year
by 0.8 to 1.1 days. (p. 126)
97. The Romans Calends
• The Romans divided the month according to the Calends on the first
day of each month, the Nones for the ninth day proceeding the Ides,
and the Ides.
• The Nones of March, May, July and October were on the seventh of
the month, and on the fifth day during the other months.
• Months of March, May, July, and October had the Ides on the
fifteenth, and the other months held the Ides on the thirteenth.
• The first day, Calends, of April, is now on March 21 due to leap
adjustments via the Gregorian Calendar.
• The 10-month Roman Calendar began the new year following the end
of December on April 1.
• The expression "April Fool's Day" is a modern remnant of the 2,000-
year old calendar.
98. July and August
July and August continue the namesake months inserted by Julius
and Augustus Caesars.
The Julian calendar reform shortened 10-months from 36 days to 30
days each.
Two months we call July and August account for some 60-days in the
12-month calendar.
The former Roman Calendar, like Egyptian, had 360-days with an
extra intercalary 5-days being added to the end of the year.
The Julian Calendar spread the 5-days amongst
January, March, May, July and October.
February was supposed to have 30-days in leap years to alternate
with the 31-days of January and March.
Augustus Caesar shortened February to 29 days in leap
years, making the month of August 31 days long.
99. Calendar Influences
Early church fathers combined the Julian Calendar with Jewish Calendar influence. Declaring
Sunday, rather than Saturday, as the persistent Christian Sabbath Day served the Roman definition
of changing the days at midnight.
Subtracting 5-days from December 31 results in the older Roman year ending on December 26 of
the later Julian dating scheme.
To maintain the Roman purification festival on February 15, the Romans observed the same 50 -day
interval between the day after the New Year's Day and Februarius by reducing January from 36 days
to 31 days.
Reducing December from 36 days to 31 days accomplished the same omission of 5-days as
returning to the former 360-day Roman year.
Augustus Caesar modified the calendar by 354 C.E, which spread the last 5-days prior to December
26. Christ's Mas observation on December 25 instead of December 26 maintained Jewish tradition
of counting days at twilight on December 25.
Another way of figuring the winter solstice or the New Year of the Julian Calendar, is to use the
modern solstice approximation on December 22. Since the Gregorian Calendar rule concerning
centennial leap days was not yet effective, 3-days would have to be added to slip the winter
solstice for each 100-years of the total 300-years.
Three days added to December 22 places the winter solstice on December 25 of the year 354 A.D.
The intentions of the founding church fathers were to place Christmas Day on New Year's Day and
the Roman festival Februarius on February 15 every year.
Gregorian Calendar changes in 1,582 C.E. dealt only with the days between New Year's Day and the
spring equinox. The other days fell into place.
100. Tropical Year Current Value
This means a tropical year, as of January 1, 2000 was 365.2421897 or 365 days, 5
hours, 48 minutes, 45.19 seconds. This changes slowly; an expression suitable for
calculating the length in days for the distant past is
365.2421896698 − 6.15359 10−6T − 7.29 10−10T2 + 2.64 10−10T3
Where T is in Julian centuries of 36,525 days measured from noon January 1, 2000
TT (in negative numbers for dates in the past). (McCarthy & Seidelmann, 2009, p.
18.; Laskar, 1986)
Modern astronomers define the tropical year as time for the Sun's mean longitude
to increase by 360 . The process for finding an expression for the length of the
tropical year is to first find an expression for the Sun's mean longitude (with
respect to ), such as Newcomb's expression given above, or Laskar's expression
(1986, p. 64). When viewed over a 1 year period, the mean longitude is very nearly
a linear function of Terrestrial Time. To find the length of the tropical year, the
mean longitude is differentiated, to give the angular speed of the Sun as a function
of Terrestrial Time, and this angular speed is used to compute how long it would
take for the Sun to move 360 . (Meeus & Savoie, 1992, p. 42).
101. Calendar Revisions
Current Julian Revised Roman Roman Original Roman
Calendar Calendar Calendar Calendar Calendar
January Januarius Januarius Martius Martius
February Februarius Martius Aprilis Aprilis
March Martius Aprilis Maius Maius
Aprilis Maius Junius Junius
April
Junius Quintilis
May Maius Quintilis
Quintilis Sextilis
June Junius Augustus
Augustus September
July Julius September
September October
August Augustus October
October November
September September November
November December
October October December December
November November Februarius Januarius
December December Mercedinus Februarius
Intercalaris Mercedinus
1582 325 46 B.C. 452 B.C.E 45 B.C.E.
102. The Jewish Calendar
Noah's Flood commenced on the 17th of Cheshvan in the year 1656 from creation, and ended on
Cheshvan 27 of the following year.
The biblical commentaries explain that the Flood lasted exactly one year, and that the 11 -day
discrepancy in the dates represents the 11-day difference between the solar and lunar years.
This reflects the fact that different components of the calendar are based on a variety of natural
cycles which do not easily lend themselves to synchronization. The month derives from the moon's
29.5 day orbit of the earth; the year, from the 365-day solar cycle. The problem is that 12 lunar
months add up to 354 days -- eleven days short of the solar year.
Most calendars deal with this discrepancy by simply ignoring one or the other of the celestial
timekeepers. For example, the Gregorian Calendar (which has attained near-universal status) is
completely solar based. Its 365 days are divided into 12 segments of 30 or 31 days, but these
"months" have lost all connection with their original association with the moon. There are also
calendars (such as the Moslem Calendar) which are exclusively lunar-based, with months that are
faithfully attuned to the phases of the moon. Twelve such months are regarded as a year, but these
"years" bear no relation to the solar cycle (a given date in such a calendar will, in certain years, fall in
the midst of summer and, in other years, in the dead of winter).
The Jewish calendar is unique in that it endeavors to reconcile the solar and lunar time -streams. By
employing a complex 19-year cycle in which months alternate between 29 and 30 days and years
alternate between 12 and 13 months, the Jewish calendar sets its months by the moon, its years by
the sun, combining lunar time and solar time into a single system while preserving the integrity of
each.
For the sun and the moon represent the two sides of a dichotomy which bisects virtually every aspect
of our existence -- a dichotomy whose differences we must respect and preserve even as we
incorporate them in a cohesive approach to life.
103. Western Liturgical calendar
Ordinary Time
"Ordinary" comes from the same root as our word "ordinal", and in this
sense means "the counted weeks". In the Roman Catholic Church and in
some Protestant traditions, these are the common weeks which do not
belong to a proper season. In Latin, these seasons are called the weeks per
annum, or "through the year".
In the current form of the Roman Rite adopted following the Second
Vatican Council, Ordinary Time consists of 33 or 34 Sundays and is divided
into two sections. The first portion extends from the day following the
Feast of the Baptism of Christ until the day before Ash Wednesday (the
beginning of Lent). It contains anywhere from three to eight
Sundays, depending on how early or late Easter falls. The main focus in the
readings of the Mass is Christ's earthly ministry, rather than any one
particular event. The counting of the Sundays resumes following
Eastertide, however, two Sundays are replaced by Pentecost and Trinity
Sunday, and depending on whether the year has 52 or 53 weeks, one may
be omitted.
104. The Mayan Calendar
Did the Mayas Think a Year Was 365 Days?
Although there were only 365 days in the Haab year, the Mayas were aware that a year is
slightly longer than 365 days, and in fact, many of the month-names are associated with the
seasons; Yaxkin, for example, means "new or strong sun" and, at the beginning of the Long
Count, 1 Yaxkin was the day after the winter solstice, when the sun starts to shine for a longer
period of time and higher in the sky. When the Long Count was put into motion, it was started
at 7.13.0.0.0, and 0 Yaxkin corresponded with Midwinter Day, as it did at 13.0.0.0.0 back in
3114 B.C.E. The available evidence indicates that the Mayas estimated that a 365-day year
processed through all the seasons twice in 7.13.0.0.0 or 1,101,600 days.
We can therefore derive a value for the Mayan estimate of the year by dividing 1,101,600 by
365, subtracting 2, and taking that number and dividing 1,101,600 by the result, which gives us
an answer of 365.242036 days, which is slightly more accurate than the 365.2425 days of the
Gregorian calendar.
(This apparent accuracy could, however, be a simple coincidence. The Mayas estimated that a
365-day year processed through all the seasons twice in 7.13.0.0.0 days. These numbers are
only accurate to 2-3 digits. Suppose the 7.13.0.0.0 days had corresponded to 2.001 cycles
rather than 2 cycles of the 365-day year, would the Mayas have noticed?)
In ancient times, the Mayans had a tradition of a 360-day year. But by the 4th century B.C.E.
they took a different approach than either Europeans or Asians. They maintained three
different calendars at the same time. In one of them, they divided a 365-day year into eighteen
20-day months followed by a five-day period that was part of no month. The five-day period
was considered to be unlucky.
105. The Egyptian Calendar
The ancient civil Egyptian calendar had a year that was 360 days long
and was divided into 12 months of 30 days each, plus five extra days
(epagomenae, from Greek ἐπαγόμεναι) at the end of the year.
The months were divided into three weeks of ten days each.
Because the ancient Egyptian year was almost a quarter of a day
shorter than the solar year and stellar events therefore "wandered"
through the calendar, it has been referred to as the annus vagus, or
"wandering year".
Based on his understanding of the Palermo Stone, Alexander Scharff
believed that the Old Kingdom period observed a year with 320
days.
106. Babylonian Calendar
Babylonian 360-day-Tun-years in more detail may bridge the gap between
Mayan and Jewish Calendars. Prior to the Roman Julian Calendar, the
Romans were using a 10-month calendar with 36-day-months. Eventually
12-months stabilized more or less in their current configuration. Lunar
months having 29-days or 30-days became the norm for nomadic people
and expanding Greco-Roman culture into larger geographic areas.
Mesoamerican Calendars are the exception to strict lunar
observation. Fixed ceremonial centers encourage dividing 360-day-Tun-
years into 18 Uinals of 20-days each. The Mayan lunar series or
supplementary series evidences that moon glyphs tracked phases and
cycles. However, the majority of lunar scripts are still unknown.
Calendar months reckon 30-days according to the rule of “three stars
each.” Each Decan star was from a different band in the sky. Carved figures
often represent sprits for each of the 36 Decan stars. A new Decan star
rose about every 10-days.
107. The Chinese Calendar
Combined solar/lunar calendar in that it strives to have its years coincide with the tropical year and its months
coincide with the synodic months. A few similarities exist between the Chinese and the Hebrew calendar:
An ordinary year has 12 months, a leap year has 13 months.
An ordinary year has 353, 354, or 355 days, a leap year has 383, 384, or 385 days.
When determining what a Chinese year looks like, one must make a number of astronomical calculations:
First, determine the dates for the new moons. Here, a new moon is the completely "black" moon (that
is, when the moon is in conjunction with the sun), not the first visible crescent used in the Islamic and
Hebrew calendars. The date of a new moon is the first day of a new month.
Second, determine the dates when the sun’s longitude is a multiple of 30 degrees. (The sun’s longitude is 0
at Vernal Equinox, 90 at Summer Solstice, 180 at Autumnal Equinox, and 270 at Winter Solstice.) These
dates are called the Principal Terms and are used to determine the number of each month:
Principal Term 1 occurs when the sun’s longitude is 330 degrees.
Principal Term 2 occurs when the sun’s longitude is 0 degrees.
Principal Term 3 occurs when the sun’s longitude is 30 degrees. (etc.)
Principal Term 11 occurs when the sun’s longitude is 270 degrees.
Principal Term 12 occurs when the sun’s longitude is 300 degrees.
Each month carries the number of the Principal Term that occurs in that month.
In rare cases, a month may contain two Principal Terms; in this case the months numbers may have to be
shifted. Principal Term 11 (Winter Solstice) must always fall in the 11th month .
108. The Islamic Calendar
The Islamic calendar is not to be confused with a lunar calendar that is based on astronomical
calculations. The latter is based on a year of 12 months adding up to 354.37 days. Each lunar month
begins at the time of the monthly "conjunction", when the Moon is located on a straight line between the
Earth and the Sun. The month is defined as the average duration of a rotation of the Moon around the
Earth (29.53 days). By convention, months of 30 days and 29 days succeed each other, adding up over two
successive months to 59 full days. This leaves only a small monthly variation of 44 mn to account
for, which adds up to a total of 24 hours in 2.73 years. To settle accounts, it is sufficient to add one day
every three years to the lunar calendar, in the same way that one adds one day to the Gregorian
calendar, every four years.[20] The technical details of the adjustment are described in Tabular Islamic
Calendar.
Each month has either 29 or 30 days, but usually in no discernible order. Traditionally, the first day of each
month is the day (beginning at sunset) of the first sighting of the hilal shortly after sunset. If the hilal is
not observed immediately after the 29th day of a month (either because clouds block its view or because
the western sky is still too bright when the moon sets), then the day that begins at that sunset is the 30th.
Such a sighting has to be made by one or more trustworthy men testifying before a committee of Muslim
leaders. Determining the most likely day that the hilal could be observed was a motivation for Muslim
interest in astronomy, which put Islam in the forefront of that science for many centuries.
Each Islamic state proceeds with its own monthly observation of the new moon (or, failing that, awaits the
completion of 30 days) before declaring the beginning of a new month on its territory. But, the lunar
crescent becomes visible only some 15–18 hours after the conjunction, and only subject to the existence
of a number of favorable conditions relative to weather, time, geographic location, as well as various
astronomical parameters.
109. Lunar Calendar
A lunar calendar is a calendar that is based on cycles of the lunar phase.
The only widely used purely lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar or Hijri
calendar, whose year always consists of 12 lunar months. A feature of a
purely lunar year, on the Islamic calendar model, is that the calendar
ceases to be linked to the seasons, and drifts each solar year by 11 to 12
days, and comes back to the position it had in relation to the solar year
approximately every 33 Islamic years. It is used predominantly for religious
purposes. In Saudi Arabia it is also used for commercial purposes.
Most lunar calendars, except the Hijri, are in fact lunisolar calendars. That
is, months are kept on a lunar cycle, but then intercalary months are added
to bring the lunar cycles into synchronization with the solar year.
Because there are about twelve lunations (synodic months) in a solar year,
this period (354.37 days) is sometimes referred to as a lunar year.
110. Biblical calendars
Scholars are not in agreement about whether the calendars used by the Jews before the
Babylonian captivity were solar (based on the return of the same relative position between the
sun and the earth) or lunisolar (based on months that corresponded to the cycle of the moon,
with periodic additional months to bring the calendar back into agreement with the solar cycle)
like the present-day Hebrew calendar. The first month of the year was called (Aviv),
meaning the month of green ears of grain. It thus occurred in the spring.
At about the time of the Babylonian captivity, the Jews adopted as the name for the month the
term (Nisan), based on the Babylonian name Nisanu. Thomas J Talley says that the
adoption of the Babylonian term occurred even before the captivity.
In the earlier calendar, most of the months were simply called by a number (such as "the fifth
month"). The Babylonian-derived names of the months currently used by Jews are:
Nisan (March–April) Tishrei (September–October)
Iyar (April–May) Cheshvan (October–November)
Sivan (May–June) Kislev (November–December)
Tammuz (June–July) Tevet (December–January)
Av (July–August) Shevat (January–February)
Elul (August–September) Adar (February–March)
111. Zodiac Calendar
History of the zodiac covers calendar science, astronomy and culture. The
zodiac circle has 360-degrees. Calendar reckoning purposes translate the
zodiac circle to the basic 360-day-calendar-year. The equator is an
imaginary line that circumscribes Earth at 0-degrees latitude. Extending the
equatorial circle into space creates a mathematical plane between the
equator on the surface and the corresponding circle in space called the
ecliptic. The equator and the ecliptic are in perfect alignment only at two
distinct equinox times during the year.
The zodiac typically refers to the stars and star groups or constellations
near the ecliptic band throughout the year. Modern astrology recognizes 12
different sign constellations spaced roughly 30-days or 30-degrees
apart. The sun and moon travel along the ecliptic and the zodiacal stars
vary up to about 8-degrees either side of the ecliptic. Spiritual concerns
span nearly every culture and anchor most world religions. Astrology here
includes the ancient branch of calendar science, that mixes beliefs in
astrology with early astronomy.
112. The Antediluvian Calendar
The Antediluvian Calendar in Genesis 5 establishes original counting techniques that carry forward to
variations of Jewish and Mesoamerican calendar systems. Significant 364-day-Ethiopic-years and the
matching corollary term, 364-year-Ethiopic-cycles manifest similar traits.
Annual procedures leading to New Year’s Day on the vernal, spring equinox divide a Judaic 360 -day
midpoint length of year into four equal quarters having 90-days each. The vernal equinox occurs in
springtime when the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator. One single day each quarter aligns with each
Royal day-star. The four archangel stars conclusively identify as Regulus, Aldebaran, Antares and
Fomalhaut. These four archangel stars once signified four cardinal points in the ancient year.
Descriptions in the Books of Enoch and elsewhere add these 4-day stars to 360-days every year to create
the 364-day-Ethiopic-year. One Royal day-star adds with each of four quarters. Early astronomy and
astrology combine long ago. Regulus introduces the summer solstice. Regulus is the heart of the
constellation Leo the lion and leader of the four royal stars. Aldebaran is a red giant star and the Eye of
Taurus the Bull. Antares is the heart of the Scorpion. Fomalhaut belongs to the Southern Fish, Pisces.
According to Enoch, the four day-stars are isolated and especially “not included in the regular
computation of the year.”
Many Old Testament researchers relate the famous 12 tribes of Israel to 12 astrological signs of the
ancient Mesopotamian zodiac.
Genesis 1:14-15
“And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let
them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky
to give light on the earth. And it was so.”
113. Sumerian Calendar
Sumerian cosmology is responsible for an early set of core beliefs found in the Holy Bible.
Sumerians have the distinction of being the earliest inhabitants of the Fertile Crescent region.
Beginning 8,000-years B.C.E., Sumerian culture realized a priest-astronomer class, improved
agrarian techniques and developed the first sexagesimal (base 60) numbering system.
Sumerian language bears affinity to vocabulary and similar concepts found in the ancient
tongues of India and Africa. They referred to themselves as “Black Heads.” The name Sudan
traces the “Land of the Blacks.” Biblical references may include the famous Kingdom of Kush
from Northern Sudan eastward to the Nile River. One other point is worth mentioning.
Etymology for the name Adam shows derivation from the Assyrian Adami or man. Some
references also indicate Adami was particularly the black headed man.
In light of the Ethiopic 364-day-calendar-year and full knowledge that cultural exchanges took
place between Northern Africa and Egypt, there is reasonable assurance that Sumerian
astrology and astronomy predicates later Babylonian and Egyptian zodiacs. Astrological signs
are the ancient mathematical interpretations that measure time. Entire pictures decorated
minds and artwork long ago. Astronomical constellations are the modern approach that
purely references scientific observation. Many star charts contain line diagrams that signify
astrological sign shapes.
The Sumerian year had 12-lunar-months, based upon phases of the moon and just two
seasons. Summer began on the vernal spring equinox, lasting 6-months through until the
autumnal equinox. Winter was the harvest season and outlined by monthly written
characters for hand, seed, grain and cutting. Sighting new moon crescents determined the
length of month and intercalary lunar months were necessary to keep the lunar year on track
with the solar year. Sumerian, ancient Hindu and later Semitic days began at sundown.
115. Each Full Moon
Each full Moon of the year has its own name, most of which are associated with
the weather or agriculture. The most common names used in North America
include:
January -- Moon after Yule
February -- Snow Moon
March -- Sap Moon
April -- Grass Moon
May -- Planting Moon
June -- Honey Moon
July -- Thunder Moon
August -- Grain Moon
September -- Fruit Moon (or Harvest Moon)
October -- Hunter's Moon (or Harvest Moon)
November -- Frosty Moon
December -- Moon before Yule
116. Cycle of the Moon
Generally, only once in a month
do we have a full moon.
The cycle of moon phases takes
28 days, while some months are
31 days.
It will occasionally happen if the
first quarter moon happens on
the 1st or 2nd of the month.
The next 1st quarter will occur
within that same month.
117. Moon Phases
The Moon has phases because it orbits Earth, which causes the
portion we see illuminated to change. The Moon takes 27.3 days to
orbit Earth, but the lunar phase cycle (from new Moon to new
Moon) is 29.5 days. The Moon spends the extra 2.2 days "catching
up" because Earth travels about 45 million miles around the Sun
during the time the Moon completes one orbit around Earth.
At the new Moon phase, the Moon is so close to the Sun in the sky
that none of the side facing Earth is illuminated.
In other words, the Moon is between Earth and Sun. At first quarter,
the half-lit Moon is highest in the sky at sunset, then sets about six
hours later. At full Moon, the Moon is behind Earth in space with
respect to the Sun. As the Sun sets, the Moon rises with the side
that faces Earth fully exposed to sunlight.
118. The Harvest Moon
The full Moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox is
commonly referred to as the "Harvest Moon," since its
bright presence in the night sky allows farmers to work
longer into the fall night, reaping the rewards of their spring
and summer labors.
Because the equinox always falls in late September, it is
generally a full Moon in September which is given this
name, although in some years the full Moon of early
October earns the "harvest" designation.
119. Blue Moon
Because the time between two full Moons doesn't quite equal a whole
month, approximately every three years there are two full Moons in one
calendar month. Over the past few decades, the second full Moon has
come to be known as a "blue Moon." The next time two full Moons occur
in the same month (as seen from the United States) will be August 2012.
The most recent "blue Moon" occurred in December 2009.
On average, there's a Blue Moon about every 33 months. Blue Moons are
rare because the Moon is full every 29 and a half days, so the timing has to
be just right to squeeze two full Moons into a calendar month. The timing
has to be really precise to fit two Blue Moons into a single year. It can only
happen on either side of February, whose 28-day span is short enough time
span to have NO full Moons during the month.
The term "blue Moon" has not always been used this way, however. While
the exact origin of the phrase remains unclear, it does in fact refer to a rare
blue coloring of the Moon caused by high-altitude dust particles. Most
sources credit this unusual event, occurring only "once in a blue moon," as
the true progenitor of the colorful phrase.
120. A Lunar Year
A lunar year or lunar calendar is one that is based on the cycles of the
moon phases. The problem with a lunar calendar is that it drifts away from
the seasons. Each year, the start and end dates of each month drift by 11
days. In order to stay correct, every lunar calendar has to deal with this
drift away from the calendar year.
Let’s examine a year. A lunar month lasts 29.53 days. So after 12 lunar
months, you’re about about 354 days. This is short of the 365 days that it
takes the Earth to orbit the Sun.
This is a problem since after about 3 years, the lunar months are out of
cycle with the solar year by about a month. And this problem would just
continue.
Usually there is one full moon in every solar calendar month, but
sometimes there are two depending on when in the month they occur. This
is because months are based roughly, but not precisely, on the lunar cycle.
The 30-day and 31-day months can sometimes have 2 full moons, snuggly
fit at both ends of the month.
122. Solstice
Solstice can be defined, is by the astronomical phenomenon for which it is named, which is
readily observable by anyone on Earth: a "sun-standing." This modern scientific word
descends from a Latin scientific word in use in the late Roman republic of the 1st century
BCE: solstitium. Pliny uses it a number of times in his Natural History with the same meaning
that it has today. It contains two Latin-language segments, sol, "sun", and -
stitium, "stoppage.” The Romans used "standing" to refer to a component of the relative
velocity of the Sun as it is observed in the sky. Relative velocity is the motion of an object
from the point of view of an observer in a frame of reference. From a fixed position on the
ground, the sun appears to orbit around the Earth.
The component of the Sun's motion seen by an earthbound observer caused by the
revolution of the tilted axis – which, keeping the same angle in space, is oriented toward or
away from the Sun – is an observed daily increment (and lateral offset) of the elevation of the
Sun at noon for approximately six months and observed daily decrement for the remaining six
months. At maximum or minimum elevation, the relative yearly motion of the Sun
perpendicular to the horizon stops and reverses direction.
The maximum elevation occurs at the summer solstice and the minimum at the winter
solstice. The path of the Sun, or ecliptic, sweeps north and south between the northern and
southern hemispheres. The days are longer around the summer solstice and shorter around
the winter solstice.
123. Equinox
An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from
nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator. The
term equinox can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage
happens. The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox
(night), because around the equinox, the night and day have approximately equal length.
At an equinox, the Sun is at one of two opposite points on the celestial sphere where the
celestial equator (i.e. declination 0) and ecliptic intersect. These points of intersection are
called equinoctial points: classically, the vernal point and the autumnal point. By
extension, the term equinox may denote an equinoctial point.
An equinox happens each year at two specific moments in time (rather than two whole
days), when there is a location (the subsolar point) on the Earth's equator, where the center
of the Sun can be observed to be vertically overhead, occurring around March 20/21 and
September 22/23 each year.
Although the word equinox is often understood to mean "equal [day and] night," this is not
strictly true. For most locations on earth, there are two distinct identifiable days per year
when the length of day and night are closest to being equal; those days are referred to as the
"equiluxes" to distinguish them from the equinoxes. Equinoxes are points in time, but
equiluxes are days. By convention, equiluxes are the days where sunrise and sunset are closest
to being exactly 12 hours apart.
124. Calculating Equinox and Solstice
When the Sun's path crosses the equator, the length of the
nights at latitudes +L and -L are of equal length. This is
known as an equinox. There are two solstices and two
equinoxes in a tropical year.
Equinox and solstice times are calculated to better by
minutes. The length of time from one to the next has
nothing to do with leap days. It is a physical thing
(example: 264,227.6 minutes), no matter what sort of
calendar you use.
125. A Tropical Year
A tropical year (also known as a solar year), for general
purposes, is the length of time that the Sun takes to return
to the same position in the cycle of seasons, as seen from
Earth; for example, the time from vernal equinox to vernal
equinox, or from summer solstice to summer solstice.
Since antiquity, astronomers have progressively refined the
definition of the tropical year, and currently define it as the
time required for the mean Sun's tropical longitude
(longitudinal position along the ecliptic relative to its
position at the vernal equinox) to increase by 360 degrees
(that is, to complete one full seasonal circuit). (Meeus &
Savoie, 1992, p. 40)
127. Terrestrial Time
Terrestrial Time (TT) is a modern astronomical time standard defined
by the International Astronomical Union, primarily for time-
measurements of astronomical observations made from the surface
of the Earth.
For example, the Astronomical Almanac uses TT for its tables of
positions (ephemerides) of the Sun, Moon and planets as seen from
the Earth. In this role, TT continues Terrestrial Dynamical Time
(TDT),which in turn succeeded ephemeris time (ET).
The unit of TT is the SI second, the definition of which is currently
based on the cesium atomic clock, but TT is not itself defined by
atomic clocks. It is a theoretical ideal, which real clocks can only
approximate.
TT is distinct from the time scale often used as a basis for civil
purposes, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). TT indirectly underlies
UTC, via International Atomic Time (TAI).
128. Astronomical Almanac
Authorized by Congress in 1849, the American Nautical Almanac Office was founded and
attached to the Department of the Navy. The American Ephemeris and Nautical
Almanac was first published in 1852, containing data for the year 1855. Its data was
originally calculated by human "computers", such as Chauncey Wright and Joseph
Winlock. Between 1855 and 1881 it had two parts, the first for the meridian of
Greenwich contained data on the Sun, Moon, lunar distances, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and
Saturn, which was published separately as The American Nautical Almanac. The second
part contained data for the meridian of Washington on the
Sun, Moon, planets, principal stars, eclipses, occultations, and other phenomena.
Beginning in 1882, data for Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune was added to the first
part, with eclipses, occultations, and other phenomena forming a separate third part. In
1916, The American Nautical Almanac ceased to be a reprint of the first part of the
American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, becoming a separately prepared volume for
the navigator. In 1937, the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac was divided into
seven parts, with data for the meridian of Washington substantially reduced, then
eliminated beginning in 1951. Data for Pluto was added in 1950.
Beginning in 1960, all parts except for a few introductory pages were jointly calculated
and typeset by the American Nautical Almanac Office and Her Majesty's Nautical
Almanac Office but published separately within The American Ephemeris and Nautical
Almanac and The Astronomical Ephemeris, a new name for the old British title The
Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris. Beginning in 1981, the title The
American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac and the British title The Astronomical
Ephemeris were completely merged under the single title The Astronomical Almanac.
129. Ephemeris
An ephemeris (plural: ephemerides; from the Greek word ἐφημέριος ephemerios "daily") is a
table of values that gives the positions of astronomical objects in the sky at a given time or
times. Different kinds of ephemerides are used for astronomy and astrology. Even though this
was also one of the first applications of mechanical computers, an ephemeris will still often
be a simple printed table.
The position is given to astronomers in a spherical polar coordinate system of right ascension
and declination or to astrologers in longitude along the zodiacal ecliptic, and sometimes
declination. Astrological positions may be given for either noon or midnight.
An astronomical ephemeris may also provide data on astronomical phenomena of interest to
astrologers and astronomers such as eclipses, Apparent retrograde motion/planetary
stations, planetary ingresses, sidereal time, positions for the mean and true nodes of the
moon, the phases of the Moon, and sometimes even the position(s) of Chiron, and other
minor celestial bodies.
Astrologers also use other ephemerides that include tables of imaginary celestial bodies , such
as Lilith, a term they use variously for the apogee of the Moon or the second focus of the
Moon's orbit. Some ephemerides also contain a monthly aspectarian, while others often
include the declination of the planets as well as their longitudes, right ascensions, or
Cartesian coordinates.
131. The Year
How do we really know what Year it Is?
With all the changes and different Calendars,
who is right?
How can predictions or years be right, when we
don’t really know what day it really is?
How can you determine what sign you are
according to the year you were born, when our
years are off?
132. The Date
How do we really know what Day it Is?
With all the changes and different Calendars,
who is right?
How can predictions or dates be right, when we
don’t really know what day it really is?
How can you determine what sign you are
according to the day you were born, when our
dates are off?
133. The Time
How do we really know what Time it Is?
Each day is shorter or longer depending on our
season, who is right?
How can predictions or time be right, when we
don’t really know what time it really is?
How can you determine what time it is
according to the sun, the season, or the hours
in a day when our times off?
134. The Zodiac
How do we really know what sign we really
are?
With all the changes and different types of
Zodiac Calendars, who is right?
How can predictions or our signs be
right, when we don’t really know what sign we
really are?
How can you determine what sign you are
according to the day, the year, or the time you
were born, when our dates, years, and times
are off?
135. Why don’t Scorpios Accept the New 13th Sign?
The main reason is that we use base our Zodiac sign on the
Tropical Zodiac.
The second reason is that it is misplaced, and should be placed
between Sagittarius and Capricorn.
Our dates are off, and we need to create balance in our
calendar and add an additional month with the additional sign.
No one is really on a cusp due to the fact that, we added dates
and moved dates around. We must correct the Zodiac
Calendar.
The sidereal Zodiac is way off as well, the constellations are
almost opposite of what they should be.
137. Constellations
The chart shows the fourteen
constellations along the
ecliptic. This chart shows the
movement of the vernal
equinox counterclockwise
along the path as seen from
Earth. Thirteen of the
constellations are on the
ecliptic. Only Orion is off the
ecliptic, and is beyond the
circle, or below the ecliptic
plane.
138.
139. 13 Zodiac Signs
According to the Minnesota Planetarium Society
Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries: April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29-Dec. 17.
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.
140. The figure above clearly shows the ecliptic passing through the 12 constellations, as well
as through Ophiuchus, and the ecliptic will also include Orion in a century or so. Clearly
there are 14 constellations one could consider, and while that is not the same thing as
14 signs, having 14 signs, and starting them with Aries, and the vernal equinox, is clearly
enriching to astrology, and still tropical astrology at its finest!
142. True Calendar Calculations
December 21, 2011
New Year’s Day
Winter Solstice
Nubruis Enters our Orbit
364 days in a year plus New Year’s Day 0
52 weeks in a year
13 months per year
91 days between Solstice
Seasons change every 3 months
on the 1st day after is the Solstice
13 Moon Cycles
28 days per month
4 weeks per month
7 days per week
143. Ophiuchus Visibility
The chart shows the fourteen
constellations along the
ecliptic. This chart shows the
movement of the vernal
equinox counterclockwise
along the path as seen from
Earth. Thirteen of the
constellations are on the
ecliptic. Only Orion is off the
ecliptic, and is beyond the
circle, or below the ecliptic
plane.
It makes more sense to add
Ophiuchus in between
Capricorn and Sagittarius,
since it is more visible here.
It appears hidden by Scorpio.
144. The New Zodiac
Old sign New Sign
Aries - March 21 - April 20 Aries - April 14 to May 10
Taurus - April 21 - May 21 Taurus - May 11 to June 7
Gemini - June 8 to July 5
Gemini - May 22 - June 21
Cancer - July 5 to August 2
Cancer - June 22 - July 22
Leo - August 3 to August 30
Leo - July 23 -August 21 Virgo - August 31 to September 27
Virgo - August 22 - September 23 Libra - September 28 to October 25
Libra - September 24 - October 23 Scorpio - October 26 to November 22
Scorpio - October 24 - November 22 Sagittarius - November 23 to December 20
Sagittarius - November 23 - December 22 Orion- December 21
Ophuchicus - December 22 to January 17
Capricorn - December 23 - January 20
Capricorn - January 18 to February 15
Aquarius - January 21 - February 19
Aquarius - February 16 to March 15
Pisces - February 20- March 20 Pisces - March 16 to April 12