The ecliptic is the path that the earth takes as it revolves around the sun. From earth an observer might imagine that the sun follows a path through the sky and as it does so passes along an imaginary line. That line is called the ecliptic because when the moon crosses that line and intersects the sun we call it an eclipse.
The ecliptic has been followed by astronomers and day dreamers since Adam and Eve took their first evening stroll. This path has been the root of legend, mythology, and fanciful stories. The groupings of stars along the way form what we call constellations. Different cultures have different names but they all have some similarities, most likely because of the shapes they resemble.
The ecliptic does not pass through the exact same constellations, because of the hemisphere of the earth in which you reside. Westerners refer to the constellations on the ecliptic as the zodiac. There are twelve of them, well sort of. You see over time the ecliptic has drifted and now in reality it passes more through the constellation Ophiuchus during the November/December timeframe. You see the sun passes through different constellations during different times of the year. This is why each month has one, and coincidently there were 12.
However overtime Ophiuchus has drifted onto the scene. So sorry, you may think that you are a Sagittarius because of when you were born. That may have been true when paleolithic man was chasing rabbits, but not so much anymore.
For the next couple of nights when you look at the horizon you will see the bright and full Strawberry Moon. Named that way because it is June and Strawberries are in season. As you look you will notice that the moon is in the constellation Ophiuchus, but you probably will only see part of it.
Even as something as consistent as the ecliptic changes. So here you are, on the night of the Strawberry Moon seeing it surrounded by the new and 13th sign of the Zodiac. Up for a change? Ready to change your ecliptic? Seems like tonight is a great night to start.
Guy Reams
