Ekliptio

Aquarius zodiac sign: dates, traits and meaning

Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the tropical zodiac and usually covers about January 20 to February 18. Between 1930 and 2030 the Sun entered Aquarius between January 19 and January 21 (UTC). Aquarius is a fixed air sign, traditionally ruled by Saturn and, in modern astrology, by Uranus.

Aquarius at a glance
Typical datesJanuary 20 – February 18
Sun enters (1930–2030)01/19 – 01/21 (month/day, UTC)
Ecliptic longitude300° – 330°
Element, modalityAir, fixed
Polarityactive (yang)
Ruling planetSaturn (modern: Uranus)
SymbolWater-bearer
Opposite signLeo

Updated

Zodiac sign300°

Aquarius

Element
Air
Mode
Fixed
Ruler
Saturn

Aquarius symbolizes originality, community and ideals – thinking about how things could be. It is associated with independence, friendship and a humanitarian streak.

Freedom of thought is close to sacred for Aquarius. Making room for feelings, not only for ideas, is the step that usually brings people closer.

Aquarius as Sun, Moon and rising sign

Sun in Aquarius

An Aquarius Sun tends to think differently and is comfortable doing so. You may care deeply about fairness, friendship and ideas that could make things better for many people. Your originality keeps things fresh; the growth edge is staying close to individual feelings, not only big principles.

Moon in Aquarius

With the Moon in Aquarius, you may process emotions with a bit of distance, stepping back to understand before you react. Freedom and friendship often matter as much as closeness. You may feel most at ease with people who accept your quirks without question.

Aquarius rising

An Aquarius rising often gives a friendly yet slightly unconventional first impression. People may see you as open-minded, interesting and hard to predict. You tend to approach new situations as an observer who brings an unexpected perspective.

Compatibility by element

As an air sign, Aquarius tends to connect with Gemini and Libra and to be stirred by fire signs (Aries, Sagittarius). Opposite Leo balances the group with the individual heart. Compatibility depends on far more than the Sun.

When the Sun enters Aquarius

YearSun enters Aquarius
202420 January at 14:07 UTC
202519 January at 20:00 UTC
202620 January at 01:44 UTC
202720 January at 07:30 UTC
202820 January at 13:21 UTC
202919 January at 19:01 UTC
203020 January at 00:54 UTC

The Aquarius constellation

Tropical Aquarius spans ecliptic longitude 300°–330°.

Questions

What are the Aquarius dates?

Aquarius runs from roughly January 20 to February 18. The exact day the Sun changes sign shifts by up to a day from year to year (and depends on your time zone), so if you were born on a boundary date, check your year with the zodiac sign calculator.

Is January 20 Aquarius or Capricorn?

It depends on the year: between 1930 and 2030 the Sun entered Aquarius on January 19, 20 or 21 (UTC). In 2027 the ingress is on January 20 at 07:30 UTC.

What planet rules Aquarius?

Saturn is the traditional ruler; many modern astrologers also assign Uranus.

Sources

  1. Astronomy Engine (Don Cross) – source code and documentation, MIT license
  2. NASA/JPL Horizons System – reference ephemerides used to test our results
  3. Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Book I (Loeb translation, LacusCurtius) – traditional rulerships and exaltations
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica – Zodiac