Zodiac is a group of stars that are visible in a band circling the earth. This band extends about 8 degrees on each side of the sun's apparent path around the earth over the year. Moon and all planets with the exception of Pluto remain within this band of zodiac during the course of their apparent movement over celestial sphere.
The band of zodiac is divided in 12 sections of equal width. Each of these sections is named after a constellation of stars that is contained within the section. Most of these constellations are named after animals. The name Zodiac is thus derived from Greek word zoidiakos which means circle of animals.
The Ideas of zodiac was base on the observation that if stars were visible during the daylight the sun would appear to be moving across a series of constellations, entering a new constellations each month. These constellations were collectively called zodiac. And the name of the constellation in each section of zodiac was termed as sign of the zodiac.
The names of the 12 signs of zodiac are:
(1) Aries, (2) Taurus, (3) Gemini , (4) Cancer, (5) Leo, (6) Virgo, (7) Libra, (8) Scorpio, (9) Sagittarius, (10) Capricorn, (11) Aquarius, and (12) Pisces.
People believed that there is a connection between seasonal changes and the zodiacs or the constellations of the zodiac because these changes were accompanied with specific position of sun with respect to the zodiac constellations.
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