The horoscope is a two-dimensional diagrammatic representation of the positions of heavenly bodies as observed from a given place and time on Earth. Today exact computation of these positions is done by software dedicated to horoscopic astrology. Arithmetic and geometry are used to make calculations involved in making a horoscope. These help find out the apparent position of celestial bodies at dates and times under consideration using astronomical tables. Horoscopes and astrology originated with the ancient Greeks, who were sure that a person’s life was pre-determined and predictable by the positioning of certain heavenly bodies (sun and moon) and constellations present at the time of a person’s birth. During 1600’s the practice of reading horoscopes spread throughout the world and a man named William Lilly made it more acceptable to churchgoers by calling it “Christian Astrology”. Horoscopic astrology is believed to have developed in the early 1st century BC. The most ancient recorded region of this practice is Egypt. However, the oldest surviving form of this kind of astrology in the world is Vedic astrology that has been practiced in India since ancient times. The world of horoscopes and astrology centers two-dimensional representations of heavenly bodies called horoscopes. These are made for important moments, usually hailing a beginning, like the moment of a person's birth or the beginning of a new venture. A basic horoscope is related to a person’s birth time, date, and year as well as during which of the twelve Zodiac segments the birth occurs. The year is divided into twelve parts, each named after a different constellation that is prevalent in the sky. Each Zodiac “sign” has both positive and negative characteristics. Horoscopes are customized according to exactly where within the Zodiac segment the birth date and time occur, or what sign you fall under. If the birth date falls near an adjacent sign, the horoscope sign is said to be on the cusp. Horoscope signs (constellation positions) were used in history as a way to foretell the future not only of individuals, but of countries and even the future of the world.

By tradition, the twelve horoscope signs are:  

Aries (March 21-April 19), Taurus (April 20-May 20), Gemini (May 21-June 20), Cancer (June 21-July 22), Leo (July 23-August 22), Virgo (August 23-September 22), Libra (September 23-October 22), Scorpio (October 23-November 22), Sagittarius (November 23-December 21), Capricorn (December 22-January 19), Aquarius (January 20-February 19), and Pisces (February 20-March 20).