In 2016 NASA dropped a bombshell informing the world that instead of 12 zodiac signs there were, in fact, 13 and that what we had always thought were our star signs were no longer correct. Then, showing a complete lack of empathy for those who felt that their lives had been turned upside down by this revelation, they stated – “Here at NASA, we study astronomy, not astrology. We didn’t change any zodiac signs, we just did the math.” The name of the new star sign was Ophiuchus.

Unfortunately, being NASA, their argument was pretty watertight. When the ancient Babylonians created the zodiac about 3,000 years ago they wanted it to correspond with star constellations. However there was a snag. They were working with a 12 month calendar, but there were 13 constellations. So one had to go. At least they made the correct choice and ditched the one with the most unpromising name.

There was also the small matter of the Earth’s axis which NASA argued doesn’t point in the same direction as it did back then and therefore all the signs have different date ranges now.

So here they are, the zodiac signs and dates according to NASA:

Capricorn:   Jan. 20 to Feb. 16   Aquarius:   Feb.16 to March 11

Pisces:   March 11 to April 18   Aries:   April 18 to May 13

Taurus:   May 13 to June 21   Gemini:   June 21 to July 20

Cancer:   July 20 to Aug. 10   Leo:   Aug. 10 to Sept. 16

Virgo:   Sept. 16 to Oct. 30   Libra:   Oct. 30 to Nov. 23

Scorpio:   Nov. 23 to Nov. 29   Ophiuchus:   Nov. 29 to Dec. 17

Sagittarius:   Dec. 17 to Jan. 20

Needless to say, the astrology world wasn’t having any of this. Ignoring the criticism that astrology is a pseudoscience, they made their case and agreed that NASA was right that Ophiuchus does exist as a constellation, but argued that the constellations are not the same as signs. The Tropical Zodiac is not meant to be aligned with the constellations, so therefore the astrologers never had it wrong. The zodiac signs are based around the Earth’s relationship to our own Sun, not alignments with other Stars (Suns). For example: someone born on May 31st would be a Gemini (Sun sign), but their Sun would be aligned with the star Aldebaran in the constellation of Taurus.

OK, so I’m no longer a dependable, realistic and determined Capricorn. According to the new signs, I’m now Sagittarius, cheerful, optimistic and energetic. This doesn’t sound like me, at all. At least I’m not Ophiuchus. It was a close call though, because I only missed that fate by one day.

Not that I believe in any of it, but I know that NASA’s not right. A Capricorn woman tends to be very stubborn. She believes that her judgments and decisions are always right, thus changing her viewpoint is next to impossible. So, with that in mind, I am still a Capricorn and I ain’t budging!