In astronomy, the zodiac is a group of constellations that is present behind the path which the Sun, Moon and planets transverse across the sky, as seen from our planet Earth. The Zodiac occupies a small eight-degree view on either side of an imaginary line known as the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun, which in effect traces a path of the Sun’s movement around the celestial sphere each year.
The constellations of the zodiac are named after figures, animals and objects from Greek or earlier mythology. The ecliptic line passes directly through the thirteen constellations of: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius and Pisces. The ecliptic also passes very close to the constellations of Auriga, Corvus, Cetus, Orion & Sextans, which means that on some occasions the Moon or planets may actually transverse these other constellations. Astronomical Astrology identifies this group of 18 constellations as the extended zodiac.