Find your Western zodiac sign, element, ruling planet, personality traits, and compatible signs
Enter the month you were born (1–12)
Enter the day you were born — your sun sign only depends on month and day, not the year
What Is a Sun Sign?
Your sun sign — sometimes called your "star sign" or simply your "zodiac sign" — is the sign of the Western zodiac the Sun was traditionally considered to occupy on the date you were born. It's the single most widely recognized piece of astrology, the basis for daily horoscope columns, and usually the first thing people mean when they ask "what's your sign?" Unlike a full natal chart, your sun sign depends only on your birth month and day — not your birth year or the time of day you were born — because it follows the same 12-sign, ~365-day cycle every single year.
Elements and Qualities
Each of the 12 signs belongs to one of four elements — Fire, Earth, Air, or Water — which broadly describes its temperament (Fire signs are associated with passion and action, Earth with practicality and stability, Air with intellect and communication, Water with emotion and intuition). Each sign also belongs to one of three qualities, or "modalities" — Cardinal signs are traditionally seen as initiators who start things moving, Fixed signs as stabilizers who see things through, and Mutable signs as adaptable types who embrace change. Together, a sign's element and quality are the traditional shorthand for its overall character.
Sign Compatibility, Simplified
Astrological compatibility is a deep and often debated topic, but the most common starting point is elemental harmony: signs that share an element (say, two Fire signs) tend to understand each other's core drives, while signs of complementary elements — Fire with Air, and Earth with Water — are traditionally considered to balance each other well. This calculator uses that standard convention to suggest generally compatible signs for each result. It's a simplified, general-interest lens rather than a full compatibility reading, which would also weigh moon signs, rising signs, and other chart factors.
A Note on How This Calculator Works
This calculator determines your sun sign using the commonly published Western tropical zodiac date ranges, cross-checked against standard astrology references. Because the Sun's exact sign-to-sign transition shifts by up to a day depending on the year and your time zone, results for birthdays within a day or two of a boundary ("cusp") date are approximate — if precision matters to you, a full ephemeris lookup for your exact birth year and location will confirm it. This tool reflects a popular, simplified tradition intended for entertainment and self-reflection, not a scientific or predictive instrument.
FAQ
What is a sun sign?
Your sun sign (also called your "star sign" or "zodiac sign") is the constellation the Sun was traditionally considered to be passing through on your birth date. It's the most commonly referenced piece of Western astrology and the basis for daily horoscope columns.
Do I need my birth year or birth time for a sun sign?
No. Your sun sign only depends on your birth month and day — it repeats the same way every year regardless of what year you were born. Birth year and birth time matter for a full natal chart (which also maps your moon sign, rising sign, and planetary positions), but not for a basic sun sign.
What if I was born on a cusp date, right at the boundary between two signs?
The exact moment the Sun moves from one sign to the next shifts slightly from year to year and depends on your time zone, so the commonly published date ranges are approximate. If you were born within a day or two of a boundary date, you may want to check a precise ephemeris for your exact birth year to confirm your sign with certainty.
How is sign compatibility determined here?
This tool uses the standard element-based compatibility convention in Western astrology: signs sharing the same element (Fire, Earth, Air, or Water) and signs of the complementary element (Fire with Air, Earth with Water) are generally considered the most harmonious pairings. This is a simplified, general-interest view — a full compatibility reading considers many more chart factors.
Is sun sign astrology scientifically validated?
No. Sun sign astrology is a popular, simplified form of Western astrology intended for entertainment and self-reflection, not a scientific or predictive instrument. The date ranges and elemental groupings follow long-established astrological convention, but the personality associations are cultural/traditional readings, not empirical claims.