ASTROLOGY

Is your fate written in the stars? Probably not, but the whole idea is still pretty cool.

- BY JENNY BROWN

THE ZODIAC, or “circle of animals” in Greek, is a ring of constellations even modern astronomers find important, though not for mystical reasons: “They map out what’s called the ecliptic, which is the path the sun, planets, and moon take in the sky,” says Jackie Faherty, PhD, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History. Ancient Babylonians noticed this phenomenon—that celestial bodies move in regular patterns against a circular band of stars—and formed a belief system that eventually led to magazine horoscopes with quirky personality insights and warnings about partner compatibility. At its core, astrology is the study of how planet cycles influence us, says Susan Miller, founder of the website Astrology Zone and two astrology apps. “It’s really a tool for self-discovery.”