Horoscopes stagger from unexpected blow

An uncertain science at best, astrology has been called even further into question with the discovery that the moon’s gravitational pull on our planet actually pushes astrological ÏsignsÓ by almost a month.

The Minnesota Planetarium Society released this news last month, to the dismay of astrologists everywhere.

What this means in practical terms is that if you were once a Pisces, you are probably now an Aquarius. If you were a Libra, you are now a Virgo, and so on (full table at right). Additionally those born from Nov. 29 to Dec. 17 now fall under a new zodiac sign ó Ophiuchus, the Ïsnake holder.Ó Ophiuchus has been suggested as the Ï13th signÓ by astrologists in the past, and was already in use in some parts of Japan at the time the new research was published.

Luckily for us, since the second century C.E., Western astrology has been wholly dependent on something called the Ïtropical zodiac,Ó which changes with the seasons rather than constellations. Research from the Minnesota Planetary Society pertains to Eastern astrological beliefs, called ÏSidereal.Ó Astrologists maintain that if you follow typical western horoscopes, your ÏsignÓ is actually still the same. Serious Capricorns, you aren’t going to be enthusiastic, independent Sagittariuses. And none of us are going to become snake-wrangling Ophiuchuses.

New Sidereal Zodiac Chart

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.