Astrology lovers thrown new curve ball

MERCURY must be in retrograde* for astrology lovers this week who were delivered the terrible news their star sign might not be what they thought it was.

Now they’ve been delivered another blow by science.

Several news organisations this week reported there was a 13th zodiac constellation, but in fact, there are 14.

University of Southern Queensland astronomer (not astrologer) Professor Jonti Horner said it could be argued the 14th constellation of the zodiac is Cetus (the Whale), though the Sun only spends about one day of the year passing through it.

Professor Horner said Cetus appeared around March 14, when the Sun briefly leaves Pisces for a quick whale-watching visit, before moving back in to Pisces again until mid-April.

“(People born under the Cetus zodiac) are fairly typical humans,” Prof Horner said.

“They have about the same chance of meeting a tall, handsome stranger as anyone else.”

Recent media reports have highlighted the existence of 13th zodiac, Ophiuchus.

Prof Horner said it was a common misconception by astrologers there were only 12 zodiac signs, as there had always been 13, possibly 14.

“It goes back to the ancient Babylonians,” he said.

“Something like 2500 years ago, give or take, the Babylonians were putting together their astrology.

“They were really good astronomical observers, and they knew as the earth moved around the sun it had the effect of the sun moving around the sky from our point of view (showing us different constellations at different times).

“Over the course of the year, they realised the sun spent time in a total of 13 constellations, with a varying amount of time in each.”

He said they wanted to fit the astrology neatly into 12 months, and as both the Ophiuchus and Scorpius constellation could be viewed in the same 30 day window, they had to choose between them.

“They went with Scorpius as it’s pretty and bright, while Ophiuchus is bland and boring,” he said. *Mercury is not currently in retrograde.