More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
News star signs are changing has taking the internet by storm and caused outrage - but there's more to it than meets the eye.
The Ophiuchus constellation has caused many in Kent to go in to melt down, as it's widely reported to have been added to star charts following a discovery by NASA changing the rest of the astrological calendar in the process.
The addition of the serpent-bearer sign would completely alter the dates for the rest of the signs, meaning someone born on January 27 has gone from being an Aquarius to a Capricorn.
Melissa Mitchell asked common questions regarding the addition: "Where has Ophiuchus come from? Where’s it been all these years just to decide now is the time to join the party??
"Oh well it is 2020, nothing is going to be normal this year!!"
Some welcomed the date changes. While Jennifer Andrews commented: "No thank you. I have been an Aquarius for 30 years and not suddenly going to become something else!" Sarah Jordan noted: "I've always been an Aries but people say I'm more like a Pisces. They were right, I've changed, I'm now a Pisces."
Despite the fervorous coverage suggesting NASA recently discovered the constellation and added it to the astrological chart, this reporting is incorrect.
Ophiuchus as a constellation has been known about for a long time, being described in detail by Roman poet Marcus Manilius in his 40AD work Astronomica.
The traditional zodiacal signs are each based on the constellation which - from Earth at least - the Sun appears to be passing through.
Ophiuchus is actually the largest of the 13 groups of stars which now form the basis of the renewed astrological calendar.
Some astrologers have noted that in total, 21 constellations cross the Sun's path every year - meaning technically there could be up to 21 zodiac signs.
Another point of contention is that NASA is a scientific body, and thus holds no authority in terms of astrology.
