Your Zodiac Sign is Not Out of Date
A recent New York Times article, “Your Zodiac Sign Is 2000 Years Out of Date,” repeats a tired, misleading trope: that the original zodiac was based on constellations that have shifted over millennia, meaning your zodiac sign may have “changed” or that there’s suddenly a “thirteenth sign.”
There are a lot of problems with this article (and this argument) that stem from a complete lack of understanding of the basis of astrology and the science behind it. And yes, I’m using the term science intentionally. The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines science as “the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained.” Astrology absolutely fits this definition.
So let’s break down what the New York Times got wrong.
1. Astrology is not the same as constellations
When you hear the word “Aries,” your mind probably goes to the constellation in the sky. That’s understandable, but it’s not what Western astrology is measuring. In Western (tropical) astrology, Aries begins exactly where the Sun is on the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
Thousands of years ago, that seasonal point happened to line up with the constellation Aries. But because of a slow astronomical cycle called the precession of the equinoxes (a 26,000-year wobble of Earth’s axis), the backdrop of stars has shifted (here’s a detailed article from NASA on it). Today, the constellations no longer line up neatly with the seasonal signs.
Astrologers have known this for millennia. It’s not a mistake, and it doesn’t invalidate astrology.
2. The tropical zodiac is seasonal, not stellar
Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, which is Earth-centered and season-based. Here’s how it works:
The Sun’s apparent path around Earth (the ecliptic) is divided into four quarters, anchored at the equinoxes and solstices, the turning points of the year.
Each quarter is divided into three equal 30° segments, creating the 12 zodiac signs.
These signs are symbolic archetypes tied to the cycle of the seasons, not literal star clusters.
That’s why it doesn’t matter that constellations have shifted. The tropical zodiac has always been defined by the rhythm of Earth’s seasons, not by fixed stars.
3. There is not a “13th sign” (in Western astrology)
Every few years, media outlets recycle the “Ophiuchus, the 13th sign” story. It’s clickbait. The constellation Ophiuchus exists, yes, but constellations are not the foundation of tropical astrology. The 12 signs are a mathematical division of the ecliptic. There is no “room” for a 13th sign in this system, because the zodiac is not defined by how many constellations happen to touch the Sun’s path.
Astrologers are not confused about this. NASA knows it. Even astronomers who critique astrology understand that the “13th sign” claim has no grounding in the actual practice of Western astrology.
4. Why this matters
The real harm of articles like the NYT’s isn’t just that they get the facts wrong. It’s that they spread doubt and misinformation about a discipline that many people find deeply helpful. Astrology is a sacred, symbolic system of meaning-making. To reduce it to a gotcha headline about “your sign being wrong” is lazy at best and intentionally dismissive at worst.
If the NYT had fact-checked with a single professional astrologer, they would have avoided publishing a misleading piece. Instead, they recycled a debunked narrative that has been floating around for decades.
The bottom line
Your sign hasn’t changed. The zodiac isn’t “out of date.” Western astrology is based on the turning of the seasons, not the shifting of the stars.
The next time you see a headline claiming otherwise, know that astrologers past and present have already done the homework. And we’ll continue to refute misinformation, because astrology deserves the respect of being engaged with on its actual terms, not dismissed by strawman arguments.
FAQs
Has my zodiac sign changed?
No. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, which is based on Earth’s seasons. Your sign has not changed.
What about the 13th zodiac sign, Ophiuchus?
Ophiuchus is a constellation, not a zodiac sign. The zodiac is a 12-part seasonal division that does not change.
Why do people say astrology is “out of date”?
This confusion comes from mixing up constellations with zodiac signs. Astrologers have known about the precession of the equinoxes for thousands of years.
What is the tropical zodiac?
It is the Earth-centered system used in Western astrology, dividing the Sun’s path into 12 equal signs starting at the spring equinox.
Discover your chart beyond the headlines
Don’t let headlines confuse you. Astrology isn’t about star clusters shifting — it’s about the relationship between Earth, the Sun, and the seasons.
Book a session to explore your chart the way it’s meant to be understood.
