What is the difference between Zodiac and Constellation?

Constellations are defined as a group of stars that form patterns and are named and identified by their traditional mythological figures. And have names that correspond to these figures. The constellations are established when important stars are grouped around asterism in the sky, creating constellations.

Constellations are utilized for the specific purpose of studying astronomy. International Astronomical Union recognizes only 88 constellations. Zodiacs, on the contrary, were used by Romans in the 1st millennium BC.

The idea had been taken from Babylonian astronomy, which was obtained from Ptolemy’s study of the stars he had identified and named. Mythological hybrid animals represent many Zodiac signs. Zodiac constellations are a series of 12 specific constellations internationally acknowledged across the sun, moon, and the stars.

Constellations are characterized as a group of stars that form a specific pattern, and they are named and recognized by their traditional mythological figures. Zodiac constellations are the constellations that give the zodiac signs to people. Both constellations and zodiac are involved in the study of astronomy. Modern astronomy indicates that constellations are established areas of the sphere called the celestial sphere.

These classified areas or constellations are internationally known. When prominent stars are at a certain closeness to other stars, they are grouped to form constellations. Zodiac constellations, on the other hand, are a series of 12 different constellations that are internationally approved. Romans used zodiacs in the 1st millennium BC. The concept had been derived from Babylonian astronomy, which came from Ptolemy's study of the stars and the list of groups of stars which he named. Zodiac constellations assist in representing the course of the sun through the whole year's calendar.

People may get confused between zodiac and constellations because they seem to be the same in the beginning. Constellations are a group of stars that you can find in the sky. They usually form different patterns, and they have been named beforehand.

Zodiacs, wherein some astrology is based on, are also constellations but do remember that not all constellations are considered to be zodiacs. Zodiacs and constellations are very helpful in providing the way that the sun courses as the earth keeps on spinning around it. At the same time, zodiacs are also being used by astrologists in order to predict their future, but constellations are not necessarily used in astrology.