Sign 10 · Western tropical zodiac

Capricorn
December 22 - January 19

Capricorn in the Western tropical zodiac: conventional December 22 - January 19 range, Earth element, Cardinal modality, and clearly labeled astrological interpretations.

Astrology note: Date range, element, modality, and ruling planet describe a conventional astrological system. Personality, luck, compatibility, and career material below are interpretations—not scientific findings or predictions.

Immediate answer

Capricorn at a glance

Conventional dates: December 22 - January 19
Element: Earth
Modality: Cardinal
Ruling planet: Saturn

Calendar fact

Born near the Sagittarius–Capricorn boundary?

A sign starts the moment the Sun reaches its position on the ecliptic, not at midnight on a fixed calendar date. Because the tropical year is about 365.2422 days long, that moment moves by up to about a day from one year to the next and resets with the leap-year cycle. This is why reputable tables list a sign as beginning on, for example, 20 or 21 March and both are correct for different years.

How the two boundaries around Capricorn behave, and what decides a borderline birthday.
Boundary	Dates it can fall on	What decides it
Sagittarius Capricorn	December 21 or December 22	The birth year, then the birth time and time zoneNot resolvable from a date table alone
Capricorn Aquarius	January 19 or January 20	The birth year, then the birth time and time zoneSame drift applies at both ends

How to read this: if a birthday falls squarely inside December 22 - January 19, the sign is Capricorn in every year. If it falls on December 21, December 22, January 19 or January 20, a published table cannot answer it and this site does not pretend otherwise. This site uses the conventional ranges for a month-and-day lookup and does not compute the Sun's exact position, which is what an ephemeris-backed natal chart does.

Astrological profile

How tradition describes Capricorn

Capricorn is the achiever of the zodiac. Those born under this sign are ambitious, disciplined, and willing to work hard for success. Capricorns are practical and responsible, often seen as the 'adults' in any room. They value tradition and take their commitments seriously.

ResponsibleDisciplinedSelf-controlledAmbitiousPracticalPatientTraditional

Traditional strengths

Common themes

Highly ambitious · Disciplined · Responsible · Good managers · Patient

Traditional challenges

Common cautions

Pessimistic · Workaholic · Unforgiving · Condescending · Expects the worst

Astrological interpretation

Compatibility themes

Astrologers compare elements and other chart placements. This simplified sun-sign list is for exploring the tradition, not assessing a relationship.

Taurushigh in this simplified readingStable, practical earth signs Virgohigh in this simplified readingHardworking, detail-oriented pair Scorpiohigh in this simplified readingAmbitious, determined power couple Arieslow in this simplified readingDifferent paces and approaches Libralow in this simplified readingDifferent priorities

Traditional associations

Colors, numbers, day, and symbols

Traditional numbers: 4 · 8 · 13 · 22
Traditional colors: Brown · Black · Grey · Dark Green
Traditional day: Saturday
Associated symbols: Garnet · Carnation

Interpretation label: “Lucky” associations are traditional correspondences. They do not change probability or predict outcomes.

Astrological interpretation

Career themes in sign guides

Popular astrology often connects Capricorn with the following fields. Career fit depends on a person's skills, interests, access, and circumstances—not a zodiac sign.

BusinessFinanceLawAdministrationArchitecture

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the conventional Capricorn dates?▼

Capricorn is commonly assigned to December 22 - January 19 in the tropical zodiac. Boundary dates can vary by source, and a full natal chart uses year, time, and location.

Am I Capricorn or Sagittarius if I was born on December 21?▼

It depends on the year. Capricorn begins the moment the Sun reaches its point on the ecliptic, and that moment shifts by up to about a day across the leap-year cycle, so December 21 falls in Sagittarius in some years and Capricorn in others. A table cannot settle it; the birth year, and strictly the birth time and time zone, are needed.

Is there really a Sagittarius–Capricorn cusp sign?▼

No. In astrological tradition the Sun occupies exactly one sign at any moment, so there is no thirteenth "cusp" sign. "Cusp" is popular shorthand for a birthday close to a boundary, where the published date alone is not decisive.

What are the Capricorn element and modality?▼

Capricorn is classified as a Earth sign with a Cardinal modality in Western astrological tradition.

Are Capricorn personality and compatibility readings scientific?▼

No. They are interpretations within astrology, not scientific measurements or reliable predictions about personality, relationships, career, or future events.