Which characteristic defines the constellations included in the zodiac band the Sun's path slices through?
Answer
Constellations whose boundaries intersect the plane of Earth’s orbit
The definition of a zodiac constellation is intrinsically linked to the Earth's orbital plane, known as the ecliptic. The ancient observers noted that the Sun, Moon, and visible planets never appeared to leave a specific sector of the sky. This sector is precisely where the official boundaries of those constellations physically intersect the plane described by the Earth circling the Sun. Therefore, any constellation that intersects this orbital plane is included in the zodiac group, as it is guaranteed to be temporarily occupied by one of the major celestial travelers at some point during their apparent annual or monthly cycles.
Related Questions
What is the ecliptic in relation to Earth’s orbit around the Sun?What celestial bodies were ancient observers noting when defining the zodiac constellations?Which constellation is the extra one traversed by the Sun besides the twelve traditional zodiacal signs?What phenomenon caused the shift in constellation boundaries relative to the equinoxes over two millennia?Approximately how far eastward does the Sun appear to move daily across the background stars along the ecliptic?If the Sun is currently in Sagittarius, which constellation is highest in the sky around local midnight?Why are the stars of the constellation the Sun currently occupies completely invisible during the day?When the Sun passes through Sagittarius, what significant galactic feature is conceptually *behind* the Sun?Which characteristic defines the constellations included in the zodiac band the Sun's path slices through?What is the practical result of the original constellation boundaries being set based on positions from two thousand years ago?