The Signs of the Zodiac

The signs of the zodiac are a well-known set of names given to $30^\circ$ long segments of the ecliptic circle. Thus, the sign of Aries extends over the range of ecliptic longitudes $0^\circ$-$30^\circ$, the sign of Taurus over the range $30^\circ$-$60^\circ$, and so on. Note that, as a consequence of the precession of the equinoxes, the signs of the zodiac no longer coincide with the constellations of the same name. The 12 zodiacal signs are listed below:

Sign	Abbr.	Longitude	Sign	Abbr.	Longitude	Sign	Abbr.	Longitude
Aries	AR	$~~0^\circ$-$30^\circ$	Leo	LE	$120^\circ$-$150^\circ$	Sagittarius	SG	$240^\circ$-$270^\circ$
Taurus	TA	$30^\circ$-$60^\circ$	Virgo	VI	$150^\circ$-$180^\circ$	Capricorn	CP	$270^\circ$-$300^\circ$
Gemini	GE	$60^\circ$-$90^\circ$	Libra	LI	$180^\circ$-$210^\circ$	Aquarius	AQ	$300^\circ$-$330^\circ$
Cancer	CN	$90^\circ$-$120^\circ$	Scorpio	SC	$210^\circ$-$240^\circ$	Pisces	PI	$330^\circ$-$360^\circ$

For example, ecliptic longitude $72^\circ$ corresponds to the twelfth degree of Gemini, and ecliptic longitude $242^\circ$ to the second degree of Sagittarius, etc.

Figures 15 and 16 show all stars of visible magnitude $<6$ lying within $15^\circ$ of the ecliptic. Table 4 gives the ecliptic longitudes and latitudes and visible magnitudes of a selection of these stars which lie within $10^\circ$ of the ecliptic. The figures and table can be used to convert ecliptic longitude and latitude into approximate position in the sky, relative to the backdrop of the fixed stars.