Astronomer Parke Kunkle has set the world of astrology-lovers on a storm claiming in an NBC show that the Earth's position has changed vis-a-vis the Sun in the last 3,000 years when astrological signs were first allocated and there is a new sign called Ophiuchus which dictates the course of many events.

Now many astrologers themselves are out criticizing the new debate on the Net, aware of the fact that the new sign would bring in more complicated calculations to carry out, before giving out pre-set computer-based Zodiac predictions.

Kunkle, who is a board member of the Minnesota Planetarium Society, says: Because of this change of tilt, the Earth is really over here in effect and Sun is in a different constellation than it was 3,000 years ago.

His remarks have set the Internet abuzz with questions over the new sign called Ophiuchus which was not in the old Zodiac system designed by the Babylonian astrology. Though Kunkle himself said he was not a believer in the Zodiac system, the debate over the new sign failed to die on the Twitter or the Facebook.

Taken from the Greek word for 'serpent-bearer', the sign is portrayed by a man grasping the snake that is represented by the constellation Serpens. Ophiuchus was one of the 48 constellations proposed by Ptolemy in the second century. It was earlier known as Serpentarius, a Latin word for serpent-bearer.

The new sign will cover those born between Nov. 29 and Dec. 17 while Sagittarius will move into the 13 th position covering from Dec. 17 to Jan. 20. Some traits of those born in the sign of Ophiuchus are said to be honest, intellectual, sexually magnetic, prone to change and of course, jealous. They require special attention to understand, argue the new Zodiac sign believers.

The introduction of Ophiuchus between Scorpio and Sagittarius has upset many people who take astrology seriously, while the Internet is agog with new equations and write-ups on celebrities whose signs change dramatically overnight, if recognized.

Another fear among those who are astrology-conscious is that the insertion of the 13 number in astrology may bring in the doomsday predictions of 2012 nearer to belief. Others are upset because their Zodiac sign has suddenly changed since they are not ready to switch over to new charts or accept new predictions.

Here is the proposed new Zodiac sign chart:

Capricorn: Jan. 20 - Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 - March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18- May 13
Taurus: May 13- June 21
Gemini: June 21- July 20
Cancer: July 20- Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10- Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16- Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30- Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23- Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29- Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17- Jan. 20

However, not everybody is buying the argument. We've known about this for ages. The constellations don't suggest what's coming up, it's the planets! The constellations are a measuring device, another astrologer Susan Miller is quoted to have told ABC News.

She said over period the original number of 50 constellations were brought down to 18 and later to 12 as they are now. The insertion of a new sign would mean reversal of the entire process, she said, adding, I'm getting so many tweets. Trying to explain something technical in 140 characters is hard!

Another astrologer Rick Levine refuted that Ophiuchus had anything to do with Astrology. It's not an Astrology issue. It has to do with the stars -- it's not a sign, it's a constellation, he is quoted as saying in dailyhoroscope.com.

Cancer Facebook Cancer Sun