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12 zodiac signs? - Or is it 13 zodiac signs? It all started when an old story resurfaced about NASA, with the discovery of a new constellation.

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Ophiuchus -

This reduces the Scorpio time frame to seven days and results in a realignment of the astrological chart, giving some Pisces, Leos, and Libras other zodiac signs. NASA steps in to explain.

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NASA -

“The line from Earth through the sun points to Virgo for 45 days, but it points to Scorpius for only 7 days. To make a tidy match with their 12-month calendar, the Babylonians ignored the fact that the sun actually moves through 13 constellations, not 12. Then they assigned each of those 12 constellations equal amounts of time,” NASA clarified.

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Ophiuchus, the forgotten sign -

It's represented by a serpent bearer and is often associated with healing and wisdom. Though not widely used in mainstream astrology, some astrologers do incorporate it into their practice.

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Fixed stars - There are more elements, beyond the planets; fixed stars, like the North Star, are also important in astrological readings, adding extra layers to a birth chart.

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Asteroid influences -

The positions of asteroids are also important, particularly in matters of healing and relationships.

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And another detail: Precession -

The Earth's axis is not fixed; it wobbles or precesses over a period of approximately 26,000 years.

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Earth and the stars - This means that the orientation of the Earth's axis changes slowly over time. This wobble causes a shift in the position of the stars as viewed from Earth.

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The precession of the equinoxes -

The zodiac signs we're familiar with today are based on the positions of the stars thousands of years ago. But due to the precession of the equinoxes, our zodiac signs have shifted slightly over time, a phenomenon known as "precession."

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The shift in zodiac signs -

Due to precession, the position of the constellations in the sky has changed over the centuries. Hence the zodiac signs as we know them today no longer align perfectly with the constellations they were originally named after.

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The sign before your sign -

The sun sign you identify with today might correspond to the zodiac sign that precedes it in the traditional order. For instance, someone who believes they are a Pisces might, in reality, have the sun in front of the constellation Aquarius.

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The difference is small -

It's important to note that the shift caused by precession is relatively small. It's about one degree every 72 years. It takes thousands of years for significant changes to occur. Therefore, the sun sign you identify with is still a reasonably accurate representation of the sun's position at your time of birth.

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Capricorn - Diving into some curiosities, did you know that Capricorn is the least common sign, even though births are generally evenly distributed across the year?

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Scorpio - On the other end, Scorpio is the most common sign.

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Virgo -

The most common birthdate falls under Virgo, on September 9.

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The signs of celebrities - Ever wondered which zodiac signs are the most common among celebrities?

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Scorpio - According to a statistical analysis of celebrities' birthdates, the most common sign among actors and actresses is Scorpio. Famous Scorpios include Julia Roberts and Ryan Reynolds.

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Capricorn -

Capricorns are statistically more likely to be politically involved, with renowned leaders like Richard Nixon, Martin Luther King Jr., and Michelle Obama sharing this sign.

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The worst drivers -

According to a survey conducted by insurance agency Policy Expert, Gemini and Virgo drivers were found to have more accidents and traffic violations.

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Athletes -

Like Michael Jordan, it's likely that one of your most beloved athletes falls under the Aquarius sign.

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Cosmic statistics - According to research conducted by the South Florida Astrologer on the most impressive athletes of recent times, a remarkable 21% of them had either their sun or moon sign in Aquarius.

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Capricorn - Despite what you think you may know about their character traits, Capricorns tend to be the biggest cheaters!

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Pisces and Aquarius, too - According to a survey conducted by Ashley Madison for Bustle, Capricorns, Aquarians, and Pisces are the top three cheaters against the cosmic odds.

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The wealthiest -

The Sun shared some astrological insight with regards to a recent Forbes billionaire list, and it turns out that Libra takes the crown with an impressive count of 27 billionaires!

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Planning for presidential events - Former First Lady Nancy Reagan organized official events using the zodiac calendar, as reported in 1988 by The New York Times (based on two former White House officials statements).

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Astrology and the Inquisition -

The mathematician Aquila Ponticus faced excommunication for practicing astrology during the Inquisition.

Sources: (NASA) (The Sun) (Forbes) (Bustle)

See also: The best outfits for each zodiac sign

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