Ophiuchus: Discover the Meaning Behind the 13th Zodiac Sign

Traditionally, astrologists recognize 12 zodiac signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo,  Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. However, there’s a forgotten zodiac: Ophiuchus, the thirteenth zodiac sign.

Before diving into how Ophiuchus became forgotten, though, you must first understand how astrologists determine zodiac signs. There are tropical zodiacs and sidereal zodiacs. Ophiuchus would be a tropical zodiac.

Each tropical zodiac sign corresponds to a constellation in the night sky. Humans find their zodiac signs by identifying which constellation the sun was in on their birthday. For example, the sun passes through Aries between March 20 and April 19 in the year 2023, so if someone is born on March 25, 2023, they would say their “zodiac sign” is Aries. The 12 signs represent 30-degree divisions of the night sky. It’s an equal division of the apex of the globe, so how can astronomers have missed one?

Stargazers can see the constellation Ophiuchus in July, and astrologists hotly contest the need for the constellation to become a zodiac based on the way the sun travels through it. 

Keep reading to discover the mythology of Ophiuchus, how the constellation works itself into the night sky and zodiacs, and if your zodiac sign can change.

The Origins and Mythology of Ophiuchus

All constellations get their names, lore, and outlines from the stargazers of old. In modern times, the International Astronomical Union recognizes 88 constellations in the night sky based on separate cultures’ impressions of the star groups, mythologies, and archeological evidence of early constellation mapping from as far back as 17,000 years ago in France.

The mythology of Ophiuchus has Greek and Roman mythology roots. Astronomers generally subscribe to the belief that the true inspiration of it was Asclepius, a god in ancient Greek religions later regarded as the “god of medicine.” Even today, osteopathic medical schools use the Aesculapian Staff in their logos. Asclepius was the son of Apollo and represented both medicine and healing. His daughters even encapsulate the medical arts (healthiness, recuperations, the healing process, universal remedies, and “good health”). 

In Asclepius’s origin story, a snake licked his ears in return for some kindness Asclepius had previously shown, and that lick imparted to him secret knowledge. In many stories of Asclepius’s healing rituals and works, a snake plays some role. Asclepius’s healing power became so great, he was able to evade death and bring humans back from the Underworld. Angered by his behavior, Hades complained to Zeus — who feared Asclepius would teach other humans his ways — and killed him for good. He did place his body among the stars in the constellation known as Ophiuchus, which loosely translates to “the serpent holder.”

While the lore of Asclepius feeds into Ophiuchus’s constellation well, it isn’t the only classic tradition that discusses the constellation. References to the name Ophiuchus are found in Babylonian, Hindu, Chinese, Island, Jewish, and Hellenistic traditions as well.

The Ophiuchus Constellation: a Stellar Wonder

The actual Ophiuchus constellation has interesting and impressive features for stargazers enamored by large stars and deep-space objects. You can find several significant space objects within the constellation of Ophiuchus, including:

• Seven Messier objects (a group of 110 objects found by French astronomer Charles Messier that frustrated him in his quest for comets).
• Barnard’s Star, one of the nearest stars to Earth’s solar system outside of Alpha Centauri and Proxima Centauri.
• RS Ophiuchi, a recurring novae that erupts every 15 years.
• Several deep-space star clusters with supermassive black holes.
• Barnard 68, a dark nebula.

The nearby constellations to Ophiuchus include Hercules, Libra, Scorpius, and Sagittarius. If you know where these constellations are, you’ll have an easier time finding the Ophiuchus constellation.

When searching for Ophiuchus with the naked eye, you’ll have to wait until the months of May through October and be in the northern hemisphere of the globe. The best months to view the constellation is in July or August during the evening, because its brightest star dominates the middle part of the southern sky.

When stargazing for Ophiuchus, first find the bright star Antares (it’s easier to find before it’s next to three fainter stars). Then, follow a line from Antares to the left and you’ll see Sabik, the brightest star in the Ophiuchus constellation.

The Ophiuchus Paradox: Does Your Zodiac Sign Change?

Since 2020, the official word of Ophiuchus’ zodiac sign was put to bed — it does not exist according to NASA. Remember that astronomy and astrology differ. Both were created in tandem, but astronomy describes the study of celestial objects and the universe while astrology is the study of how the relative position of celestial objects might affect humans. 

Astronomers agree that the constellation exists and has since Babylonian times, but they do not believe it is a zodiac sign. Astrologists vary within their own circles about its inclusion in the zodiac calendar. If it is included, it bridges the gap between Scorpio and Sagittarius, taking anyone born roughly between November 29 and December 17 under its care.

On average, the sun passes in front of Ophiuchus between the last week of November and the first two weeks of December. While the ecliptic also runs through Ophiuchus, it doesn’t change that the constellation will stay just that — a constellation sign — rather than a zodiac sign in scientific circles. 

The Characteristics of Ophiuchus

Astrology is predicated on the belief that a person’s zodiac sign can and will their behavior and personality. If you believe the same, astrologists believe Ophiuchus signs get the best — and worst — qualities of the neighboring zodiacs. 

For those whose birthday falls under Ophiuchus, astrologists generally believe them to be strong, passionate people who speak their minds and heal their loved ones.

Because the sign is relatively new and not widely accepted, astrologists that do accept it believes the traits of these people align closely with Scorpios and Saggitarians. Some posit these people have a mix of both traits. Overall, they’re lovers of life, seekers of wisdom, and have an electric charisma. Their negative traits, though few, revolve around jealousy and being short-tempered.

Astrologists believe the Ophiuchus sign struggles to be in monogamous relationships. When they do decide to commit, they are most compatible with the zodiacs Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Scorpio.

Ophiuchus and Astrology

While it’s always up to personal preference, the chances of Ophiuchus joining the ranks of the zodiac signs as the official thirteenth sign is slim. Why?

Ancient astronomers and astrologers — for both tropic and sidereal zodiacs — created a geocentric system that assigns three zodiac signs to one of the four seasons. It’s an equally-distributed system based on real science and the relative position of the sun. Furthermore, it offers the chance for zodiacs to have “sister signs,” or polar opposites of each other that astrologers use to describe someone’s different perspective.

When it comes to public opinion, discourse ranges between anger and acceptance in varying colors. Some believers resonate deeply with the nuanced personality traits of the thirteenth sign — combining the thirst for adventure from a Sagittarius with the resourcefulness of a Scorpio to create a confident, passionate Ophiuchus. Others lose their minds and refuse to accept or entertain the existence of the zodiac sign. 

Constellation or Zodiac? You Decide.

While the constellation exists and has since Babylonian times, the jury remains divided on its legitimacy as a zodiac sign. The official stance of NASA and the International Astronomical Union remain steadfastly against the zodiac sign, but individual astrologers and those who are Ophiuchus signs swear that the sign exists with subtle differences in regards to Scorpio and Sagittarius.

Now that you know the thirteenth zodiac sign, discover more about astrology — like angel numbers or the animals of the zodiac by astrological sign.