Meet Ophiuchus: The “Forgotten” Zodiac Sign

Have you ever heard someone say there’s actually a thirteenth zodiac sign? That’s Ophiuchus, also called the “snake bearer.” It sits in the sky between Scorpio and Sagittarius. For most people, the idea of a new zodiac sign is shocking — does this mean your horoscope has changed?

Here’s the backstory. Thousands of years ago, the Babylonians created the zodiac. They wanted twelve signs to match the twelve months of the year, so they divided the Sun’s path into twelve equal parts. The problem? The Sun actually passes through thirteen constellations, including Ophiuchus. To keep things simple, they left it out.

In modern times, astronomers explained that the Earth’s axis slowly shifts over thousands of years, a process called precession. Because of this, the Sun’s position in the sky has moved compared to where it was long ago. That’s why, if we include Ophiuchus, the zodiac dates look very different:

So yes, technically there are thirteen zodiac constellations. But don’t worry — most astrologers still stick with the classic twelve signs. For them, the zodiac is about symbolic meaning, not astronomy. Still, Ophiuchus is a fun reminder that the night sky has more secrets than we imagine.

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