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Zodiac facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Zodiac is like a special belt of twelve constellations, which are groups of stars, that appear in the sky. These constellations often look like animals or humans. For thousands of years, people have used the Zodiac to understand the sky and even to tell stories about themselves.

Understanding the Western Zodiac

Astro signs
Western Zodiac signs

The modern astrological signs we know today are simpler versions of older signs. These were used a long time ago in a period called the Hellenistic times. Each of these twelve signs represents a different animal or person.

Here are the twelve signs of the Western Zodiac:

The Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese Zodiac works a bit differently. Instead of months, each year is matched with one of twelve different animals. The animal for your birth year is thought to influence your personality.

Here are the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac:

Images for kids

  • Ecliptic path

    The Earth in its orbit around the Sun causes the Sun to appear on the celestial sphere moving along the ecliptic (red). This path is tilted 23.44° compared to the celestial equator (blue-white).

  • Zodiac (PSF)

    A modern zodiac wheel showing the 12 signs used in horoscopic astrology.

  • Beit Alpha

    A 6th-century mosaic zodiac wheel found in a synagogue in Beit Alpha, Israel. It includes Greek-Byzantine designs.

  • Dendera

    An engraving from the 19th century showing the 1st-century BC Dendera zodiac.

  • Angers Cathedral South Rose Window of Christ with Zodiac

    The South Rose Window of Christ at Angers Cathedral. It shows Christ in the center, elders below, and the Zodiac signs above. This medieval stained glass was made after a fire in 1451.

  • Ottoman Sundial at the Debbane Palace museum

    An Ottoman-style sundial with a folded gnomon and compass. This sundial has engraved place names in Arabic and symbols for the zodiac signs. It is displayed at the Debbane Palace museum in Lebanon.

  • Zodiac German Woodcut

    The zodiac signs shown in a woodcut from the 16th century.

  • Zodiac mtskheta

    A 17th-century fresco of Christ within the Zodiac circle. This can be found in the Cathedral of Living Pillar in Georgia.

  • Ophiuchus

    An 18th-century star map showing how the feet of Ophiuchus cross the ecliptic path.

  • Zodiac Constellations

    Astrophotos of the twelve zodiac constellations.

  • Equinox path

    The path taken by the point of the March equinox along the ecliptic over the past 6,000 years.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Zodiaco para niños

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Zodiac Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.