From sun signs to rising signs, here’s a simple guide to zodiac signs and how to find yours.
Astrology has a way of sticking around—and popping up everywhere, from social media bios and TikTok explainers to that one friend who blames every failed first date on their potential suitor’s zodiac sign.
Three years after we first explained zodiac signs, you guys continue to search for answers. With interest still high, here’s a refreshed, straightforward guide to zodiac signs and how to find yours.
What is a zodiac sign?
A zodiac sign comes from astrology, an ancient system that looks at the position of the sun, moon, and plants at the moment someone is born. Astrology divides the sky in 12 sections known as zodiac signs, and each is associated with a constellation.
As the sun appears to move through these sections over the course of the year, each sign is assigned a date range of about 30 days. Zodiac signs are believed to reflect different parts of your personality, emotional patterns, and how you interact with the world. This is why everyone has three, which is usually referred to as your “Big 3.”
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There are 12 zodiac signs and four zodiac elements
On top of 12 zodiac signs are four elements that influence each sign: fire, earth, air, and water.
Each element carries certain traits that allow people to express energy in their own unique way, giving each personality its own distinct flavor, if you will. It’s generally known that fire signs are considered more passionate, earth signs are more grounded, air signs are more curious, and water signs are more emotional.
Here’s the full lineup in order:
Aries (FIRE): March 21–April 19
Taurus (EARTH): April 20–May 20
Gemini (AIR): May 21–June 20
Cancer (WATER): June 21–July 22
Leo (FIRE): July 23–August 22
Virgo (EARTH): August 23–September 22
Libra (AIR): September 23–October 22
Scorpio (WATER): October 23–November 21
Sagittarius (FIRE): November 22–December 21
Capricorn (EARTH): December 22–January 19
Aquarius (AIR): January 20–February 18
Pisces (WATER): February 19–March 20
If you know your birthday, you already know at least one of your zodiac signs and which element category it’s in.
READ MORE: Where you should live in North Carolina, based on your zodiac sign
Your sun sign
When someone asks you, “What’s your sign?” they’re usually talking about your sun sign.
That sign, the sun, is based on the day and month of your birth, and is said to represent your core identity, general personality, motivations, and sense of self. It’s the sign most people identify with first, and is the one most commonly used in horoscopes—or those predictions that offer a glimpse of what your day might look like.
Your moon sign
Your moon sign is tied to where the moon was when you were born.
Astrologers say it reflects your emotional world: how you process feelings, what makes you feel secure, and how you react when things get overwhelming. Two people can share the same sun sign but still respond very differently to stress or relationships, often because their moon signs are different.
To figure out your moon sign, you’ll need a little more than just your birthday. You’ll also need to know your exact birth time and the city you were born in, which can be found on your birth certificate. Once you have that information, you can use a free online moon sign calculator or a full birth chart tool to see exactly where the moon was at your moment of birth.
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Your rising sign
Your rising sign, also known as your “ascendant,” is determined by what zodiac sign was rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment you were born. It’s associated with first impressions, how others perceive you, and the way you navigate new situations.
Think of it as the version of yourself people meet before they get to know you well.
Figuring out your rising sign is usually easy if you already found out your sun and moon signs since you’ll need your birth date, birth city, and exact birth time. The birth time for figuring out your rising sign is more sensitive to minutes, as even a small difference in birth time can completely change your rising sign.
If all else fails, just remember this
Whether you’re a casual astrology fan or someone who dives deep into charts, understanding your sun, moon, and rising signs gives you a fuller understanding of yourself. Your sun shows your core personality, your moon reveals your emotional landscape, and your rising sign shapes how the world sees you.
But if you’re still confused after all of this (it’s OK), here’s an easy way to picture it: Your sun sign represents your house—your core self. Your rising sign is the first impression you give when someone knocks on your door, and your moon sign is what people discover about you once they step inside and really get to know you.
And once you learn all three of your signs, or your “Big 3,” you can confidently answer questions about the zodiac: “Yeah, I know my sign—and a lot more, too.”
