January Zodiac Signs: Capricorn and Aquarius
Updated November 6, 2026 · Edited by the JanuaryCalendar.com team
January has two zodiac signs: Capricorn covers January 1–19 and Aquarius covers January 20–31. In full, Capricorn runs from December 22 to January 19 and Aquarius from January 20 to February 18. The changeover follows the Sun's entry into Aquarius, so in some years it shifts by a day.
- January 1–19
- Capricorn
- January 20–31
- Aquarius
- Capricorn dates
- December 22 – January 19
- Aquarius dates
- January 20 – February 18
- Cusp
- About January 19–21
What zodiac sign is January?
Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, which splits the Sun's yearly path into 12 equal signs of 30 degrees, counted from the March equinox. Each sign begins when the Sun reaches a set point, not on a fixed calendar date. Capricorn begins at the December solstice, on December 21 or 22, and Aquarius begins 30 degrees later, usually on January 19 or 20 depending on the year and time zone.
That is why published date ranges differ by a day. Most sources list Capricorn as December 22 to January 19 and Aquarius as January 20 to February 18, while some start Aquarius on January 21 or end it on February 19. Capricorn covers 19 days of January and Aquarius the remaining 12. Each January day page shows the sign for that date.
Capricorn vs. Aquarius at a glance
| Feature | Capricorn | Aquarius |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | December 22 – January 19 | January 20 – February 18 |
| Symbol | Sea-goat | Water-bearer |
| Element | Earth | Air |
| Modality | Cardinal | Fixed |
| Ruling planet | Saturn | Saturn (traditional); Uranus (modern) |
| Opposite sign | Cancer | Leo |
| Place in the zodiac | 10th sign | 11th sign |
Uranus was not discovered until 1781, so astrologers before then assigned Aquarius to Saturn. Many modern astrologers give it Uranus, while traditional astrology keeps Saturn.
Capricorn and Aquarius traits in astrology
The traits below are how Western astrology traditionally describes each sign. Astrology is a cultural tradition, not a science, and controlled tests have not found that sun signs predict personality.
Capricorn, the sea-goat, is typically described as disciplined, ambitious, practical and patient, with a strong sense of responsibility. The same tradition lists stubbornness and pessimism as its weak points.
Aquarius, the water-bearer, is typically described as independent, inventive, open-minded and devoted to friends and causes. Its listed weak points are aloofness and contrarian streaks.
Famous January Capricorns include Elvis Presley (January 8), Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15) and Muhammad Ali (January 17). January Aquarians include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27), Oprah Winfrey (January 29) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (January 30).
January 19 and 20: the Capricorn–Aquarius cusp
People born from about January 19 to 21 are often described as born "on the cusp," and some astrology writers call this the cusp of mystery and imagination. Strictly, though, astrology places the Sun in either Capricorn or Aquarius at the moment of birth, not in both.
For January 19 birthdays the sign is usually Capricorn, but in years when the Sun enters Aquarius on January 19 in the local time zone, people born later that day are Aquarius. For January 20 birthdays the sign is usually Aquarius, but in some years the change comes partway through the day, so someone born early on January 20 is still a Capricorn. A chart calculated from the exact birth date, time and place settles it.
Zodiac signs vs. constellations in January
The signs were named after constellations, but they no longer line up with them. Earth's axis slowly wobbles, a motion called precession, which shifts the equinox point by about 1 degree every 72 years. Since the zodiac was set up about 2,000 years ago, the signs have drifted almost a full sign away from their namesake star patterns.
As a result, for most of January the Sun actually sits in front of the constellation Sagittarius. It crosses into Capricornus around January 20, close to the date the tropical zodiac moves it into Aquarius.
Sidereal astrology, used in Vedic (Hindu) astrology, accounts for this shift. In that system the Sun moves from Dhanu (Sagittarius) into Makara (Capricorn) around January 14, the date of the festival Makar Sankranti. In Vedic astrology, early January birthdays are Sagittarius and the rest of the month is Capricorn, with no January Aquarius at all.
Chinese zodiac for January birthdays
The Chinese zodiac assigns an animal to each lunar year, and the new animal begins at Lunar New Year, which always falls between January 21 and February 20. Someone born in January before that year's Lunar New Year takes the previous year's animal.
In 2027, Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027, starting the Year of the Goat, so anyone born in January 2027 before that date belongs to the previous animal year. Some Chinese astrology methods, including Four Pillars (BaZi), start the year instead at Lichun, the start of spring around February 4, which puts every January birthday in the previous animal year. See the Lunar New Year dates and animals for every year from 2020 to 2040.
Frequently asked questions
What zodiac sign is January 19?
January 19 is usually Capricorn. In years when the Sun enters Aquarius on January 19 in your time zone, people born late that day are Aquarius, so the birth time decides it.
What zodiac sign is January 20?
January 20 is usually Aquarius. In some years the Sun enters Aquarius partway through January 20, so people born early that day are still Capricorn.
Which zodiac sign covers most of January?
Capricorn. It covers January 1 to 19, or 19 days, while Aquarius covers the last 12 days of the month.
Is Aquarius a water sign?
No. Despite its water-bearer symbol, Aquarius is an air sign. The water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
When does Capricorn season start?
Capricorn begins at the December solstice, on December 21 or 22, and lasts until about January 19. Most sources list its dates as December 22 to January 19.