Ecliptic
Glossary · Last updated: 2026-07-26
The ecliptic is the great circle on the sky traced by the Sun over a year. The Moon and planets stay close to this path. That is why zodiac signs lie along it.
Tropical zodiac zero starts at the March equinox point on the ecliptic. Sidereal zodiac zero anchors to fixed stars with ayanamsa.
Example: see it on a birth date
The ecliptic is the Sun's yearly path. Sun signs are slices of that path. On February 11, 2021 the Sun is in Aquarius.
The Moon and planets also travel near the ecliptic. The noon Moon estimate for this date is in Makara rashi.
Enter your own date on the Zodiac Sign Calculator.
Obliquity
Earth's tilt (obliquity) creates seasons. It also defines the equinoxes that anchor tropical signs. Precession slowly shifts those equinox points against the stars.
Related
Main reading and tools
These are the main reading and calculator pages. Use them for a daily note, a birth-sign tool, or a pair check.
- Today's Horoscope hubAll twelve Western sun-sign daily pages, plus links to the seven-tradition reader.
- Horoscope & Zodiac CompatibilityTwo birth dates for Western, Chinese, and Indian Vedic pairing, plus every sun-sign hub.
- Zodiac Sign CalculatorWestern sun sign from birth date, with element, modality, and ruler.
- Rising Sign CalculatorIndian Vedic Lagna estimate when you have birth date, time, and place.
- Moon Sign CalculatorIndian Vedic Janma Rashi and nakshatra when birth time and city are available.