Buckle up, because everything you thought you knew about astrology is about to change. If you’re into horoscopes, you probably know that there are 12 zodiac signs. Right? Well, wrong. Maybe. 

Some people believe in a thirteenth zodiac sign, known as Ophiuchus. This star sign is said to fall sometime during what we typically think of as the end of the Sagittarius period and the beginning of the Capricorn period. Some astrologers believe that this unofficial zodiac sign should be included in the astrological calendar and that it can explain certain personality traits for people who are born under it. 

We spoke to astrologer Betty Andrews to find out a little more.

What is Ophiuchus?

Ophiucus, pronounced o-FEW-kuss is a real constellation. “It isn’t new to astronomers,” says Andrews. (In fact, according to The Guardian, the first mention of Ophiuchus was all the way back in 300 BC.) “It’s a large constellation hanging out around the celestial equator, often depicted as a man holding a snake.” In fact, Ophiuchus comes from the ancient Greek word for ‘Serpent bearer’.

So, does it count as an official zodiac sign? “In traditional Western astrology, which sticks to a neat 12-sign system, the answer is no,” Andrews says. “Ophiuchus doesn’t fit neatly into our established astrological calendar, so it’s left out of most horoscopes.”

However, Ophiuchus is sometimes used in sidereal astrology, which is used by some Vedic astrologers. “Sidereal astrology focuses on the actual positions of the constellations in the sky, unlike Western astrology, which sticks with the tropical zodiac that’s more about the Earth’s seasons,” Andrews explains, adding, “the discussion around it mostly pops up in arguments between sidereal (real star position) and tropical (seasonal) zodiac systems. In these debates, Ophiuchus is often mentioned as a point of interest or contention because it exists, it’s right there on the ecliptic (the sun’s apparent path through the sky), and yet, it’s not part of the traditional zodiac wheel.”

When is Ophiuchus?

“The sun passes through the Ophiuchus constellation every year from around 29 November to 17 December,” says Andrews. In other words, those born between 29 November and 17 December would have Ophiuchus as their sun sign, if it were a real zodiac sign. 

What does this mean for the other star signs?

While you may assume that the presence of Ophiuchus might change the dates of all of the star signs, it doesn’t exactly work that way. “While Ophiuchus shakes things up a bit in the astronomy world, it doesn’t really change much for astrology enthusiasts,” Andrews says. “Western astrology is based more on the seasons and less on the actual constellations. So, even if Ophiuchus is hanging out there, it hasn’t made its way into our daily horoscope readings.”

Even if it were a recognised star sign, it might only impact Sagittarius. The dates would look something like this:

• Sagittarius: 22 November to 29 November
• Ophiuchus: 29 November to 17 December
• Sagittarius (again): 17 December to 22 December

In other words, it wouldn’t make a ton of sense. 

Some people have created imagined calendars that do bump around all of the dates, but they’re not recognised. Here’s one example:

• Capricorn: 20 January to 16 February
• Aquarius: 16 February to 11 March 
• Pisces: 11 March to 18 April
• Aries: 18 April to 13 May
• Taurus: 13 May to 21 June 
• Gemini: 21 June to 20 July
• Cancer: 20 July to 10 August 
• Leo: 10 August to 16 September 
• Virgo: 16 September to 30 October
• Libra: 30 October to 23 November
• Scorpio: 23 November to 29 November
• Ophiuchus: 29 November to 17 December
• Sagittarius: 17 December to 20 January

How does Ophiuchus affect me?

Since it doesn’t appear in the recognised zodiac and isn’t used in Western astrology, it probably won’t affect you much.

However, if it were a real sign, it would probably be a mix of its astrological neighbours. “It would combine traits from its neighbours Scorpio and Sagittarius,” says Andrews. “Think of someone wise, curious about change, and maybe a bit mysterious. They might be a seeker of wisdom, an advocate for innovation, and someone who feels torn between paths in life.”

She adds: “Its energy combines the intense emotional depths of Scorpio with Sagittarius’s wisdom. Picture Ophiuchus as a kind of bridge, connecting the murky, mysterious underworld of our subconscious to the bright, hopeful expanse above.”

Andrews describes the imagined sign as a “healer and a protector rolled into one”. She adds that people born under the constellation may feel drawn to helping others and find themselves working in medicine or therapy.

Images: Getty