Astronomical phenomena explain how to observe the zodiac.

The earth's orbit around the sun is called the ecliptic. The width of the ecliptic is 18 degrees, 360 degrees around the earth. The ecliptic plane includes the orbits of all planets and constellations, about every 30 degrees. Each interval has a constellation, a total of twelve constellations, called the "Zodiac".

In calendar science, the division of the zodiac is itself a solar calendar. Starting from the vernal equinox, every 30 degrees of the apparent motion of the sun on the ecliptic is a solar month. It should be pointed out that the palace names of the zodiac are borrowed from the names of nearby constellations, just like the image of the zodiac borrowed by the twelve earthly branches in China calendar, which is different from the actual constellations.

The width of the ecliptic is 18 degrees, 360 degrees around the earth. The ecliptic plane includes the orbits of all planets and constellations, about every 30 degrees. Each interval has a constellation, a total of twelve constellations, called the "Zodiac".

The zodiac is an artificial division of several areas near the zodiac, in which bright stars are connected to form a series of shapes and are imagined as a specific figure. It is not difficult to observe these constellations. If you are lucky enough to observe in the suburbs, except for cancer (Pisces is half, and northern fish is really dim ~), eleven constellations are not difficult to recognize.

In fact, the constellations near the ecliptic are not just divided by the twelve constellations. Far away, let's say that our ancient astronomy in China was also divided into twelve parts on the ecliptic, which became the Twelve Divisions, but how these twelve strange names appeared remains to be verified. Because it is too abstract, few people know it. Sometimes not knowing the constellation is also a blessing. Use your imagination to classify the stars. It's wonderful. I may not like it.

As long as you know the zodiac, it is easy to divide the zodiac, but for the ancients, it is not a simple matter to determine the location of the zodiac.

The most commonly used method is to observe the meridian at midnight. The right ascension of the sun is only 12 hours away from it. Right ascension can be calculated by the height angle, and the position of the ecliptic can be depicted bit by bit by indirect methods.