Sidereal Astrology
Sidereal Sun Sign Dates
All 12 Signs (Lahiri Ayanamsa)
In the Lahiri sidereal zodiac, all 12 sign dates are shifted approximately 24 days later than their tropical equivalents. This table shows approximate solar ingress dates for the current epoch (2020 to 2050). Exact ingress shifts about one day per 72 years. For precise dates, use the calculator below.
| Sign | Approximate Dates (Lahiri) |
|---|---|
| Aries | April 14 to May 14 |
| Taurus | May 15 to June 14 |
| Gemini | June 15 to July 16 |
| Cancer | July 17 to August 16 |
| Leo | August 17 to September 16 |
| Virgo | September 17 to October 16 |
| Libra | October 17 to November 15 |
| Scorpio | November 16 to December 15 |
| Sagittarius | December 16 to January 13 |
| Capricorn | January 14 to February 11 |
| Aquarius | February 12 to March 13 |
| Pisces | March 14 to April 13 |
Dates are approximate solar ingress dates for 2020 to 2050 using the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa as implemented here. Sidereal ingress dates drift slowly against the tropical calendar over long periods. Dates can shift by up to one day year to year based on exact solar crossing time.
Why do sidereal dates differ from tropical?
The tropical zodiac anchors 0° Aries to the March equinox; the sidereal zodiac anchors it to the fixed stars. Because Earth's axis wobbles slowly (axial precession), the two starting points have drifted roughly 24 degrees apart over two millennia. This gap is called the ayanamsa. In the Lahiri system, the current ayanamsa is approximately 24 degrees, meaning every sidereal sign begins about 24 days after its tropical counterpart.
The Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa is a common modern Jyotish standard and the reference used by the official Indian almanac. Many English-language sidereal calculators default to Lahiri, but there are other ayanamshas (Fagan-Bradley, Raman, etc.) with slightly different values; dates on this page apply specifically to Lahiri.
For your exact sidereal Sun sign, calculate your complete sidereal chart. The tool shows the exact Lahiri ayanamsa applied to your birth date. To understand how sidereal astrology works and what the shift means for your full chart, see the sidereal astrology guide.
Get your exact sidereal placements
The table above shows approximate Sun sign dates. Your full chart depends on your exact birth time, which changes the rising sign and house structure. Calculate your complete sidereal chart for all placements.