A band that passes round the celestial sphere, extending 9° on either side of the ecliptic. It includes the apparent paths of the sun, moon, and planets (except Pluto). The band is divided into the twelve signs of the zodiac, each 30° wide. These signs indicate the sun’s position each month in the year and were named by the ancient Greeks after the zodiacal constellations that occupied the signs some 2000 years ago. However, as a result of the precession of the equinoxes the constellations have since moved eastwards by over 30° and no longer coincide with the signs.