Aquarius is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac, a group of star patterns that ancient astronomers noticed along the path the sun appears to travel across the sky each year. The name comes from Latin and means “water carrier” or “water bearer,” because the star pattern was imagined as a person pouring water from a jar.

In ancient times, people looked up at the night sky and connected stars into pictures that helped them remember locations and tell stories. Aquarius was one of these patterns, pictured as a figure holding a large vessel and pouring water endlessly into the cosmos. The ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks all recognized this constellation.

Today, people born between roughly January 20 and February 18 are said to have Aquarius as their astrological sign. Astrology is the belief that the positions of stars and planets at your birth influence your personality and future. While astrology remains popular in horoscopes and entertainment, it's not considered scientifically valid. Astronomy, the scientific study of space, recognizes Aquarius simply as a constellation: a useful way to map and navigate the night sky, not a predictor of personality or fate.

If you want to spot Aquarius yourself, look for it in the autumn evening sky in the Northern Hemisphere, though you'll need a fairly dark location since its stars aren't particularly bright.