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THE SUN'S APPARENT MOTION ALONG THE ECLIPTIC
Portions of Sky Maps Courtesy: Fourmilab Switzerland
From our vantage here on Earth, our parent star appears to move "eastward" about one degree per day through the zodiac (whose constellations' north and south limits are highlighted in this view in green.) Of course, this motion of the Sun is only "apparent" motion. It is actually the result of Earth's yearly orbital journey around the Sun.
Here our maps of the sky are oriented so the Ecliptic (red line) is horizontal. Remember that—since you are looking up, not down—east is to the left in this view. Also, to follow the Sun's eastward motion through the background stars, the months of the year appear to run "backward" at the bottom of the sky maps. The scrollable sky map below is provided so you can more easily examine the Sun's location in the heavens at various times of year. Another scrollable map, which can be widened to reveal more of the sky at one
time, is on our Sun's Location on the Ecliptic page. In addition, you may find the Sun's precise current position in the Zodiac on our Location in the Constellations page.
As you will soon discover, in a year's time the center of the Sun actually moves through 13 constellations! In late No- vember it enters often-overlooked constellation, Ophiuchus, at times called the "Forgotten Constellation". Also, while the Sun moves through Pisces in March, its edge "grazes" the constellation Cetus, though for less than a day. Note that—for better readability—star sizes in the sky maps are exaggerated. This includes the Sun, which is shown at twice its diameter relative to the overall sizes of the back- ground constellations. Hover near the Sun to reveal its true relative apparent size. In the animation above this will also display a nice daylight-blue sky.
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