The ECLIPTIC

The plane (an imaginary line) of Earth’s annual 360°-orbit around the SUN, extending to the CELESTIAL SPHERE is called the ECLIPTIC. This circle marks the line on which ECLIPSES occur, the MOON and the other PLANETS travel, and where the CONSTELLATIONS (stars) of the ZODIAC SIGNS live. This circle is divided into 12 30°-segments, each representing one of the 12 ZODIAC SIGNS. 

The Earth rotates on its axis, making a complete rotation each day (24 hours), traveling through each of the 12 HOUSES. It makes a complete 360°-orbit around the SUN in 365 days (1 year), traveling through all of the 12 ZODIAC SIGNS.

The ZODIAC SIGN in which the SUN appears is determined by what CONSTELLATION appears on the opposite side of the SUN from the Earth at any moment in time. On March 21st (the VERNAL EQUINOX), the SUN is moving into the CONSTELLATION of ARIES. As the Earth continues to orbit around the SUN, it will remain in ARIES until April 19th when the SUN then moves into TAURUS and so on around the ZODIAC, according to the dates of each ZODIAC SIGN.