The story behind Ophiuchus

The new year 2023 began with concern for fans of the zodiac signs, after the supposed news that NASA had changed the constellations due to their appearance. Constellation number 13: Ophiuchus, located between Sagittarius and Scorpio. A case that revolutionized social networks and even some media.

For this very reason, and in the face of so much expectation, NASA covered it up by bailing out Tweet from 2016 In which he ruled: “Have you heard that NASA has changed the signs of the zodiac? No, we certainly haven’t. At NASA we study astronomy, not astrology.”

Apparently, as explained by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in article In which he covered the issue in depth, it was the Babylonians 3,000 years ago who got rid of the Ophiuchus constellation (knowing it existed) to make the zodiacal calendar based on the 12 months of the year. And so, there remained the ones we all know: Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn.

But not only that, NASA also included that “To make an orderly combination with their 12-month calendar, the Babylonians ignored the fact that the sun actually moves through 13 constellations, not 12. of time.”

Ancient Babylonian stories spoke of 13 constellations, though one was left out. But the fact is that, in addition to Ophiuchus, there are many other constellations in the sky, science calls a conglomerate of stars in this way, but the astronomical sign is something else.

Distinguish between zodiac sign and constellation

Unlike more than eighty constellations in outer space, Ofiuco belongs to the same background as the planetary motions. But signs are divided in another way.

As explained by Sergio Barrientos, Tarot Professor and Arbiter, who teaches the Astronomy for Astrologers course, ClarionAnd The difference between both concepts is that the ‘sign is considered from the so-called ‘vernal point’, the time of year when the sun crosses the celestial equator. This time is the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the southern hemisphere. This is where In it begins the tropical year, which is the year used all over the world in civil terms and which we astrologers divide into 12 sectors of 30 degrees that make up the signs of the zodiac. In other words: it is the mathematical division of the wheel into twelve parts.

Argument shared by Olga Weyne, former CONICET professional researcher and former history professor, also in Medium cited: “The background is the circle of the zodiac. We use it divided into twelve stages or angles of 30 degrees not only because twelve is the most fertile division number—the ancients would say ‘esoteric’—for the circle of 360 degrees, which allows play with existing subdivisions in The second, third and fourth day. Also because there is a pulse in the solar system that lasts thirty days and it is the menstrual cycle that joins the moon with the sun: every thirty days we have another new moon.”

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