Which constellation is identified as the extra one whose boundaries intersect the ecliptic beyond the traditional 12 signs?
Answer
Ophiuchus, the Serpent-Bearer
The extra constellation recognized by the IAU that intersects the ecliptic, bringing the total count to 13, is Ophiuchus, also known as the Serpent-Bearer. The inclusion of Ophiuchus highlights the divergence between the ancient system, which relied on defining 12 segments of $30^ ext{circ}$, and modern observational astronomy, which maps the sky based on defined, irregular boundaries for the actual constellations themselves. The Sun spends time traversing the regions associated with Ophiuchus.
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