What astronomical process causes the tropical zodiac signs to misalign with actual star patterns?
Answer
Precession of the equinoxes.
The primary reason why the dates assigned to the tropical zodiac signs no longer align accurately with the actual constellations the Sun occupies is a long-term celestial phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes. This process involves the slow wobble of the Earth’s axis over a period of millennia. This axial wobble causes a gradual shift in the celestial coordinates over time, meaning that the point marking the start of a tropical sign, which is tied to the seasons, drifts away from its original corresponding stellar constellation marker along the ecliptic path.
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