Astrology · Zodiac Signs
Aquarius: zodiac sign and chart meaning
Aquarius in the tropical zodiac: approximate dates, element, modality and rulership. A chart example and a distinction between signs and houses.
In this lesson
Position, dates and correspondences
| Longitude sector | 300°–330° |
|---|---|
| Approximate solar dates | approximately 20 January – 18 February |
| Element | Air |
| Modality | Fixed |
| Rulership | Saturn; Uranus in modern schools |
Dates are approximate. Near a boundary, calculate the Sun’s longitude for the year, birth time and time zone. The tropical signs are equal sectors beginning at the March equinox, not the unequal boundaries of astronomical constellations.
The twelve equal sectors of the tropical zodiac. This is not a map of constellation boundaries.
How the symbolism is used
Aquarius is the eleventh sector of the tropical zodiac and an air sign. Fixed air is read through a sustained idea, a shared principle or participation in a collective project.
The water-bearer image does not make Aquarius a water sign. Saturn is the traditional ruler; modern schools add Uranus. State the convention when tracing rulership.
A placement in a constructed chart
A placement at 20° Aquarius has a longitude of 320°. In equal houses from a 15° Gemini Ascendant it is in house nine. The example places a shared idea in the context of beliefs and education.
These numbers explain a reading method; they are not a horoscope for a real person or a current forecast.
Read beyond the Sun sign
Which shared principle do you support, and how do you allow feedback about it?
Read the traditional ruling planet · Place it in the natal chart
Astrology · Zodiac Signs
Questions about this lesson
Does the sign determine compatibility?
A Sun sign alone does not establish the quality or future of a relationship. Even astrological synastry compares more than two Sun signs.