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footnote "degrees and decans"
Few of the groups of stars that form constellations look much like the objects they represent. Much imagination is needed to see the "pictures" seen by those gazing at the skies so many years ago.
Few of the groups of stars that form constellations look much like the objects they represent. Much imagination is needed to see the "pictures" seen by those gazing at the skies so many years ago.
As the earth moves around the [[sun]] in its yearly cycle, the sun appears to "move" through the constellations. The path is known as the [[ecliptic]]. The [[Babylon]]ians who used the [[duodecimal system]] of twelve, divided the ecliptic into twelve zones, each of them occupied by a constellation, the twelve constellations of the twelve signs of the '''zodiac''', used in [[astrology]]. According to [[Josephus]] these twelve signs were part of the embroidery of the Veil in [[Temple of Jerusalem|Herod's Temple in Jerusalem]].<ref>''Wars'' 5.5.4 [214]</ref>
As the earth moves around the [[sun]] in its yearly cycle, the sun appears to "move" through the constellations. The path is known as the [[ecliptic]]. The [[Babylon]]ians who used the [[duodecimal system]] of twelve, divided the ecliptic into twelve equal zones<ref>Each of the twelve zones is divided into 30<sup>o</sup> of arc, which are grouped by astrologers into three zones of 10<sup>o</sup> each, called "decans": the first, second and third decans.</ref>, each of them occupied by a constellation, the twelve constellations of the twelve signs of the '''zodiac''', used in [[astrology]]. According to [[Josephus]] these twelve signs were part of the embroidery of the Veil in [[Temple of Jerusalem|Herod's Temple in Jerusalem]].<ref>''Wars'' 5.5.4 [214]</ref>
In antiquity the beginning of the year was reckoned from the start of spring, called the vernal [[equinox]]. The vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox are the two days each year when day and night are equal in length. The constellation through which the sun is passing at the time of vernal equinox changes slowly with the centuries, and therefore the stars associated with the season of spring also change slowly.
In antiquity the beginning of the year was reckoned from the start of spring, called the vernal [[equinox]]. The vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox are the two days each year when day and night are equal in length. The constellation through which the sun is passing at the time of vernal equinox changes slowly with the centuries, and therefore the stars associated with the season of spring also change slowly.