Is there a new astrology sign – Ophiuchus?

Ok, we have received many inquiries from the DailyHoroscope App users lately regarding the question of the new “astrology” sign.

The Question

Lately some prominent news channels picked up a story about 13-th sign Ophiuchus and that due to various reasons (we don’t want to get into that) the dates for the zodiac are wrong and have to be changed/moved/recalculated.

The wave of confusion hit the Internet. Being developers of a very popular horoscope app for smart phones, we felt we have to step in with some sort of explanation not only for people who wrote us wondering about this but for everybody. We ask you to share this story on Twitter and Facebook (use the badges) so that we can put an end to the confusion.

The Answer

Short answer for those who are not interested in the details:

There is no new astrological sign. Astrology and Astronomy are completely different things. Astronomical interpretation of the boundaries of the constellations is in no way equivalent to Astrological interpretation.

We let the common wisdom speak instead of us. So we give you a quote from Wikipedia:

Unlike the zodiac signs in astrology, which are all thirty degrees in length, the astronomical constellations vary widely in size. The boundaries of all the constellations in the sky were set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1930. This was, in essence, a mapping exercise to make the work of astronomers more efficient, and the boundaries of the constellations are not therefore in any meaningful sense an ‘equivalent’ to the zodiac signs. Along with the twelve original constellations, the boundaries of a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus (the serpent bearer), were set by astronomers within the bounds of the zodiac.  (source)

You can read the full Wikipedia article about different Astrological and Astronomical systems.

UPDATE: 01/14/2011 Some people reacted in comments that Wikipedia is not reliable source and criticized us for citing from Wikipedia. So to answer this:

  1. We quoted the wikipedia because we could not have said it better ourselves and many people still think Wikipedia actually is a very good source of reliable information – information that survived a lot of critique from millions of editors.
  2. For people who do not trust Wikipedia or what we say, we explain below that we follow Tropical zodiacal cycle and will keep following it and this “recent change” which is not a change but rather something that was known for long time does not apply to Tropical (Western) astrology. Once you know that, you are free to use any source you like to learn more about Tropical zodiac and the dates.

end of the update.

The mass confusion that the news about “new zodiac sign” caused when the news reached respectful publications is another example of a very bad journalism. Where journalists are running after sensation blindfolded and the editors join them in their hype hysteria and allow publishing of misleading information. This is another warning sign to never completely trust media!

Please help us STOP the mass confusion with “new zodiac sign”. Please share with your friends on Twitter and Facebook using the badges on the top and help us stop bad journalism and resolve the created confusion!

UPDATE (01/16/2011)

Although this is supposed to be more of a technical blog, considering the recent confusion, we decided to publish a more elaborate explanation about this whole confusion and why you should not be worried and why nothing has changed. Please read What’s my zodiac sign? Sorting out the Ophiuchus confusion.

DailyHoroscope App

We will not change anything and we will keep following Tropical zodiac system. If you are confused about your sign, when you click on a sign, for each one there is a range of dates when this sign is in effect. It is quite easy to find yours. We will consider adding a simple calculator like we have for Chinese and Druid signs to aid in Zodiac sign calculation in a future release due to this confusion.

If you have Android, iPhone, BlackBerry or Windows Phone 7 smart phone. You should try our DailyHoroscope app. It is a the most popular horoscope app on Android and BlackBerry. You can see the download options on this download page or you can use the badges below!

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You can follow us on Twitter @comitic @DHiPhone @DHAndroid @DHBlackBerry


  • Heather

    Thank gawwwddddd!!!

  • sue

    What about the dates though? I saw an article that said that due to the changes in the earth’s rotation, the dates we are born under each of the signs is now different from what it was before.

  • http://twitter.com/MattBourne2Fly Matt

    I’m waiting for someone to say “Surprise! We got you all good!”

  • Dgarh

    Under the new sign, my husband would be a Leo. He acts NOTHING like a Leo. That alone convinces me that there is no truth to it…

  • http://www.inteism.com/ inteist

    This is according to Astronomy, not Astrology. Please read the full Wikipedia article for the details. We do not want to put all the details here in order to not bloat the article it’s already quite lengthy…

  • pen

    thank you!!!!

  • Chris

    The sun rose in this constellation as early as the 1600s, not 2009, not 1991.

  • omggggggggg

    its for kids born aftr 2009 sheeeshhh!

  • lick this

    ITS FOR KIDS BORN AFTR 2009!!!!!!!!! sheeeshh google illuminati also!

  • http://www.inteism.com/ inteist

    This is not true. This does not apply for Astrology at all.

  • Mo

    Everyone should’ve questioned it when it became apparent that the news sources covering the story were biased and made light of astrology altogether. Probably they think we’re all fools for believing in the zodiac system and figured we’d take their word over our own better judgment.

  • Amb3r_marie

    I was so pissed until I read this. I had my sign tattooed on my body then read it changed, I was like wth. So glad its not true

  • NoNe

    L0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0oL
    thats a kill … best comment EVER!!!!!!

  • Stef

    The articles I saw were noting a change not because of constellation changes, but due to the difference between the planets’ relationship to the sun between now and 3,000 years ago when astrological practices began. It is also said that these changes only affect persons born in 2009 or after.

    I would like to add that wikipedia is not a reliable source of information, as it is user submitted/edited, and that as your horoscopes frequently have spelling and grammatical errors, the integrity of your app is questionable as well.

  • Stef

    I would like to point out that I don’t necessarily agree with the changes themselves either, unless they had in fact been made several centuries ago. Tradition is tradition.

    I just think if you’re going to argue against a statement, make sure you correctly understand said statement first, and also, if you’re going to cite any reference material, make sure it’s legitimate. You may as well cite Yahoo Answers. I once found a page on wikipedia that said Japan is made up of cute fluffy kittens, while attempting to find information on their former theocratic hierarchy.

  • Tlwalbridge

    Wikipedia really? Your using Wikipedia to prove a point? Scary! BAD source!

  • MBT
  • kit

    OMG I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE THE NOTE IN MY HOROSCOPE THIS MORNING! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

  • Rosemariesouders

    Thanks for clearing up the confusion.

  • http://www.GarbageETC.com/2011/01/14/planters/ GarbageETC

    Planters…

    lol :)

  • Kenzie_oliver

    The fact that know one really knows what’s going on and the possibility that signs could change just proves that our horoscopes are most likely not correct. Sure theyre fun to read and sometimes they seem to fit us, the truth is theyre just someones silly interpretation. The stars and the people reading them cannot define who I am. And u shouldn’t let them define you either

  • DARINA1989

    PEOPLE ARE REALLY EFFECTED BY THIS SOME ARE HAVING IDENTITY CRISIS I DONT BELIEVE IN THIS EXTRA SIGN BORN A GEMINI ANDI WILL DIE ONE PROUDLY ;]

  • MinaMirelez

    U kno, i really did wanna believe this note, buT wikipedia is an awful source to cite.

  • Niki

    Thank you for clearing that up! I am so glad I am still a virgo! I love this app, it is so accurate!

  • BB

    it can not be for children born solely after 2009 because that means it would be for children who were born in 2010 and the first weeks in 2011..and granted their personalities are not fully developed, they will still have mannerisms which are associated with the zodiac sign they were born into…how could they find this out a year after it happened? that could mean that they could’ve missed a consellation change/ planet’s relationship to the sun years ago and forgot to inform the masses so we condition ourselves to be like the description of the zodiac signs we always thought we were. Oh please, this is bull crap.

  • Cam_c_16

    You’re all unbelievably stupid. Imbicilic to a frightening degree.

  • Bryan K

    This article is completely wrong, and is the perfect example of bad journalism, constellations don’t change, but their influence changes according to the earth’s axis which changes overtime, and grows to include other constellations and therefore new infuences

  • FYI

    You’re attempting to prove the inaccuracy and bad journalism in the articles in time and fox, but you make a horoscope app and quote wikipedia. You’re only trying to keep people from deleting your lame app. People who take their horoscopes that seriously should get their charts done and learn that sun sign horoscopes are a generalization and are not meant to be used as a life coach.

  • http://twitter.com/ZMUSICMAN Shawn Ward

    Wikipedia is an awful source. I was taught not to site that in HS………

  • http://www.inteism.com/ inteist

    - We quoted the wikipedia because we could not have said it better ourselves.
    - We explained that we follow Tropical zodiac and will keep following it and this “change” which is not a change but rather a fact that was known for centuries does not apply to Tropical (Western) astrology.
    - We try to check the content but occasionally there are typos, which we gladly fix if this information is brought to our attention.

  • http://www.inteism.com/ inteist

    - We quoted the wikipedia because we could not have said it better ourselves.
    - We explained that we follow Tropical zodiacal cycle and will keep following it and this “change” which is not a change but rather a fact that was known for centuries does not apply to Tropical (Western) astrology. You are free to use any source you like to learn more about Tropical astrology

  • Mbuttrflyznhvn

    1st of all there are ONLY 12 months a year; and after centurys all of a sudden “someone” is just going 2 “ADD” another sign?!??… REALLY?? Isn’t this world messed up enough? There is a HUGE difference with astrology & astronomy… this is TOTALLY rediculous!!!

  • Soulsaber

    I love this app. Thanks for clearing things up!

  • http://www.inteism.com/ inteist

    We quoted the wikipedia because we could not have said it better ourselves and many people still think Wikipedia actually is a very good source of reliable information – information that survived a lot of critique from millions of editors.

    For people who do not trust Wikipedia or what we say, we explain below that we follow Tropical zodiacal cycle and will keep following it and this “recent change” which is not a change but rather something that was known for long time does not apply to Tropical (Western) astrology. Once you know that, you are free to use any source you like to learn more about Tropical zodiac and the dates.

  • http://www.inteism.com/ inteist

    It is said to learn that you think that Time and Fox are ultimate sources of truth.

    We quoted the wikipedia because we could not have said it better ourselves and many people still think Wikipedia actually is a very good source of reliable information – information that survived a lot of critique from millions of editors.

    We never implied that our application is a life coach or anything close to that. We do what we do because there are people who like what we do and we like doing what we are doing ourselves.

  • Laura

    This dispute is an enormous waste of time. It’s like saying that our alphabet is the only correct and valid alphabet. Well, some other languages have more characters and some have less. That does not make either their alphabet or their language invalid or without value. The symbols, measurements and interpretations used for astronomy are good for astronomy, while the symbols, measurements and interpretations used for astrology are good for astrology.

  • http://www.inteism.com/ inteist

    You seem to believe to some professor from Minesota University whose “revolutionary” story for some reason (lack of news?) got picked up by media?! Good luck.

  • http://www.inteism.com/ inteist

    You seem to believe to some professor from Minesota University whose “revolutionary” story for some reason (lack of news?) got picked up by media?! Good luck to your cynical self…

  • ATCH

    Wikipedia is an excellent source of open information…sources are cited and where there is no source…its says citation needed…any prudent person would not discredit a source of information simply because other organizations said not to trust it…wikipedia is incredibly accurate and unbiased…I trust their information a lot more than most mainstream media outlets…wiki isn’t selling commercials…but let’s be honest…getting a reliable source of accurate data on astrological information seems illogical and stupid…as long as this is the topic of debate…genocide and world hunger can wait right?

  • Jayka

    Fuuuuuck that.

  • aynzisdumb

    LOL! Some people are so stupid.

  • Rubielips2001

    we dont have 13 months so why have 13 zodiacs i like what i am and heck with the new ..leo for ever

  • Rubielips2001

    i agree ..that mean gov is taking every thing away ..just another day in this lost world

  • Rubielips2001

    i dont think it should change at all

  • Emily

    So my birthday is january 10, am I still a Capricorn or am I now a Sagittarius?

  • Kirstie

    Actully for you dumb heads who are freaking out about them citing Wikipedia- you’re pretty dumb. I was taught before that it was bad, but then one of my teachers who also had a “love affair” with Sparknotes shed some light…Wikipedia is a great source. Everything is cited back to an original source and if not there is a note at the top of the article saying that some information is un-cited and cannot be sure that it is absolutely correct. I don’t know what I would do without Wikipedia sometimes because not only their article but I use it to get my sources since they cite them.

  • Yadidi Yung PyRo

    U cant change a virgo.. I knew it was a rumor.. U better do ur research when someone tell u something

  • http://matthewastrology.blogspot.com/ Matthew Currie

    Unfortunately, all this “Ophiuchus” business is doing a huge disservice to how Astrology actually *works*… and, like it or not, it WORKS.

  • fiona

    Im a Gemini now under the new one im a Taurus… im not a Taurus im a Gemini and forever will be

  • http://twitter.com/elnocturno Mauricio Schwarz

    Speaking of misinformation… It’s been several thousand years already, so… Can you ofer any kind of proof that astrology is anything but an elaborate scam based in irrational magic designed to separate people from their money with cold-readings and an utter inability to describe of predict the world? Any real, reproducible proof obtained under controlled conditions? If you don’t have it, be careful about denouncing disinformation elsewhere. In a rational world, you might be in jail as swindlers.

  • Dongilson

    Ophiuchus/ Serpentarius, Hermes trismegistus, Thoth, Imhotep. the only Human that became a star-sign.

    What is a Light worker you ask and what the heck is this message you speak of!

    What is “The Message” you ask? Well I will try to explain it to you the best I possibly can.

    “The Message” is based on the psychological principals of Dr. Carl Jung and the Collective Unconsciousness which has been the inspiration for “The Message”. I hope to ascend us forward to a Collective Consciousness; A Christ Consciousness you may say.

    By taking you on a thought-provoking journey through different levels of dimension. I hope that you will explore what ever your path is to GOD. My assention just happens to be through my good friend “Jesus Christ”; however “The Message” believes in the unity of “one”. So, you are more than welcome to hang out over here at “The Message” anytime you would like.

    I will combine video, music, and story to open up your mind and assend you into another dimension. I will explore everything we can possibly know about our religion,history, politics, our faith, and so much more. There is nothing that I will not explore because, you must enter the dark areas of life if you want to go depper into the light. That is why I call this an On-Going Investigation into the Current State of Our Own Faith.

    We here at “The Message” are committed to finding the truth about our history and our heritage that spans back over 50,000 years; to the times of Atlantis and Lumeria; which believed solely in a Universal Religion.

    I hope that with the help of all you throughout the world, “The Message” will stand the test of time. This is a place for you to come for deep thought and take a journey unlike anywhere you have experienced before.

    You can act like a kid in a candy store and allow you imagination to take flight. I myself have found my inner-child through the inspiration of my guradian angel; Fajuja. The imagery, videos, music, and storyline are the visions that I have inside my head and I want to share them with all of you.

    NO HOLDS BARRED!

    Now, this is a commitment on both parts. I have created it, but you have to do your work your way through it and research “The Message” as well. Watch all the videos, make a daily commitment to absorb the material, listen to the music, and just open your mind. This will allow you to make your own assumptions of what I am trying to say to you.

    There are so many journeys that “The Message” will take your sub-conscious mind, and pull it forward so that you can rightfully communicate with GOD.

    In the broadest sense, a LightWorker is anyone on Earth who is truly committed in his or her heart to helping others awaken to Love. Love makes life “lighter.” We “shed light” on dark situations with Love. Our hearts open in Love. We then make possible the connection with our SoulMates, which in turn brings more Love.

    Though the word “LightWorker” is often identified with the New Age thinking, LightWorkers are everywhere – in every religion, in every walk of life. Many of them would not describe themselves in any special way. Love knows no boundaries, no definitions.

    Many of us have experienced or are experiencing physical difficulties, suffering, hardships that we have not been able to explain. The Message says: “Only the commitment of the LightWorkers, of the pure and loving of heart, to use their lives, their bodies, hearts and Will in service of humanity’s transformation will create the bridge that will bring everyone through.” Every energy is embodied in a physical manifestation here on Earth or in any part of Creation. Only by embodying darkness for those who do not have the consciousness to acknowledge their own choices can every brother and sister turn back toward the Creator. This is the gift that the LightWorkers have given.

    “Let Me speak to you, beloved ones, about the light –the light that is the movement of My omnipresent Love — the light that is magnificent as it sweeps throughout the All I Am and washes every life in purity and grace. This light is the essence of the Twin Flame LoveMaking, for it is the light that is emitted in the great orgasmic Now. So, in the Real, dear ones, when this light comes through you, it moves you into the glorious movement of Love with your Twin Flame “So I ask you now to live this light, to love it and to see it as best you can, as it becomes free to amplify your heart. You will see, as you deeply observe through the organ of perception that is your heart, that everything in the natural world purely reflects this gold-white light to you. Then you see your heart! Nothing can ever be the same again… “You have understood that ‘Heaven on Earth’ means to bring the light to Earth that it may express as the symbols of this world. It may express as beauty and as financial plenty and as sharing, giving, and respect. It may express as giving Love to others and seeing it multiply. It will express by becoming embedded in the symbols here of a shared world, and then be lifted slowly into pure light as everyone is ready.”

  • laura

    Since when is Wikipedia an awful source? Tell yourselfthat next time you Google somethingand Wikipediahas a great listing for it. (such as a list of bands in a certain genre of music, a list of the different types of birds, or even a recipe for Apple pie)

    You badmouth something because a few peopletold you thheir opinion of it and you’re too lazy to think of your ownthoughts, so you parrot theirs.

    Nothing is completly fail proof.

    You’re basicallysaying “google sucks, Bing is better” without knowingthat Bing uses Google 2009 to search with. None of you “know” crap abouteither astronomy or astrpology. listen to the experts. its their job rtpo know this stuff. they have degrees.

  • laura

    Also, excuse my typing. i just got a new phone. not used to it yet.

  • Sugar_Queen56

    You are still a capricorn

  • Open Minded

    ” Surround yourself with who you want to be. Someday you may just end up like them.” -Anon
    human nature is to adapt to what we subconsciously idolize. a general idea of what “Alterations of personality” By Alfred Binet, a french psychologist, said.
    we read for example ” I am a Virgo.” then we read what a Virgo is. and then from there our subconscious will take over. boom. I am Virgo.
    What im trying to say is that no matter what side you chose. who you are is still your choice. Believe it, then be it.

  • Lisa

    Nostradamus pionted this out! I don’t care what you say… I believe it’s true we do have a thirteen sign!

  • artnoc

    start reading your adapted signs horoscopes and youll find it more accurate i never felt like i was truly a virgo, but all the Leo Traits fit.

    also astronomy is based on astrology because we are controlled by the gravitational pull of the minerals floating in space the signs cant easily be split into 33degree increments, they follow the same time lines as the constellations themselves.. mainstream astrology was built to shroud the knowledge of the planets effects on us.. astrology helps guide our free will. showing us which dates would be easier and which days would prove more difficult to do certain tasks.

    also since everything has spell check built in, how is it that your app is always full of errors. if your too lazy to spell check, your probably to lazy to learn astronomy accurately.

  • Funktionalfascion

    actually the thirteenth sign of the zodiac has been around for at least 2000 years, i read about it 12 years ago. so nothing has changed recently it has just been announced by the mainstream media this way.
    the fact that there are only 12 months means nothing. as you can divide 12 into infinity.

    also do you realy need to replace the word “TO” to “2″ i mean it’s one character shorter.

  • educated

    I like how so many people without a clue of how these things work are calling it preposterous. The evidence is so basic to understand that it’s a shame so many people have their heads in the sand.

    two notes:
    1. most of the people reluctant to accept this news have horrible grammar, perhaps indicating a lower education level/grasp.
    2. I’m going to assume that the reluctant people all have tattoos that would be incorrect, so that must fight this new news :)

  • ha

    Born a Gemini & will die ignorant :)

  • Info

    There is no arguing this fact. Wikipedia is not a creditable source. No legitimate publication would cite wiki without deep-citing where that original info came from.

    It might be fine for casual bloggers, but not for anyone looking to build a firm foundation.

  • Smart

    :)

  • Info

    I like the “many people still think Wikipedia actually is a very good source of reliable information” part. Compare that to so many people here calling out the people skeptical of wiki due to the exact same reason.

    Just because “some/many people” say one thing or another, it doesn’t make it true. Wikipedia is crowd-sourced information. The fact is that it it not 100% accurate. No high-level enterprise (school, publication) would allow or recommend citing wikipedia.

    It’s doing the masses a disservice to try to claim wikipedia as anything more than cliff-notes. It’s a great tool, but should abs not be the only tool in your arsenal.

  • Anonymous

    Look up the word curmudgeon. Negative posts with nothing positive to add is just being a Troll.

  • shabtel

    I’m so excited this app clarified this maddness… so my baby is still the sassy gemini she is!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1449776967 Arianna Ryuuka

    Wow really? Nice comeback, jerk. One) Refusing to acknolwedge a change which if you’ve been paying attention, ISN’T EVEN HAPPENING, is not ignorance. Ignorance is not knowing, Darina is not acknowledging. and Two) You’re just being a jerk, most likely to get your own kicks

  • pedophile rapist

    UMMMMM WHO CARES?!

  • Aydonne

    Me too my friend!

  • Trish Lovett

    everyone has thier own opinon about thing`s, that`s what our freedom is all about.

  • Anzamyu05

    im a proud cancerian D: by sun sign moon sign pisces im not different >O i will not change my sign nyo i will poop on them for making me change my sign >O.

  • Peace

    All this shows is that the majority of people are so terrified by any sort of change. I think it’s kind of fun! Whether it’s true or not, it is something interesting to think about. I would welcome the change just to explore new possibilities. That’s just my open-minded opinion… Now, let the ignorant, hateful responses flow in!

  • Fletchermarguerite

    tell me why i cannot post my horoscope?

  • Brande Rachelle

    Wikipedia? Not a very reliably source!

  • Brande Rachelle

    *reliable

  • http://www.rasheestudio.com/ Vedic Astrology

    i agree with you.that mean gov is taking every thing away. Just another day in this lost world…

  • http://www.sistertongue.wordpress.com Sistertongue

    As you note, Ophiuchus is not a new sign, rather the hoo ha is totally media driven on a slow news day. It is, however, quite a fascinating constellation primarily for its location so close to The Galactic Center, which plays a very significant role – well, THE ROLE – in the Mayan 2012 predictions of changes on earth.

  • Brian

    I remember reading in an old world almanac, I think 1994, there was orginally 13 signs, but “astrology” for some reason dropped one of the zodiacs. I’m not sure what it was, but I dont think it was Ophiuchus. Also I remember it said something about how the zodiacs where different way back when. And instead of me being a capricorn I was actually supposed to be a sagitarius

  • Brian

    One more note Astrology is basically a made up religion. It’s all bs. I realize some people know this and just use it for entertainment, but some people also think stealing is entertainment. Does that make it right?

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