Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac, for people born roughly from January 20 to February 18. It is a fixed air sign, traditionally ruled by Saturn (Uranus in modern astrology): original, independent and humanitarian. Its symbol is the Water-Bearer and its tarot card is The Star. Read today's Aquarius horoscope.
Aquarius at a glance
| Dates | January 20 – February 18 (varies by a day; see the finder) |
|---|---|
| Element | Air: ideas, communication and connection |
| Modality | Fixed: sustains, commits and resists change |
| Ruling planet | Saturn (modern: Uranus) |
| Symbol | The Water-Bearer |
| Tarot card | The Star |
| Opposite sign | Leo |
Are you really a Aquarius? Exact sign finder
Sign dates shift by a day from year to year. Enter your birth date (and time, if you know it) and we calculate where the Sun really was, so cusp birthdays get the right answer.
Aquarius personality: strengths and challenges
Aquarius in love and compatibility
Aquarius loves through friendship and freedom: it wants a partner who respects its independence and shares its ideas. The growth point is emotional closeness: letting someone in, not only into its mind.
| Match type | Signs | Why, in traditional astrology |
|---|---|---|
| Easiest matches | Gemini, Libra, Aries, Sagittarius | Signs of the same element, or of the element that complements air, tend to understand each other easily. |
| Opposites attract | Leo | The opposite sign has what Aquarius lacks: strong attraction, and something to learn from each other. |
| More friction | Taurus, Scorpio | Signs three apart ("square") have different needs; it can work, but takes more compromise. |
Sun signs are only one part of compatibility. For a reading based on your birth cards instead, try the tarot love compatibility calculator.
Aquarius careers
Aquarius tends to thrive in innovative and people-focused work: technology, science, research, social causes, non-profits, design and any field that is changing the future.
Aquarius tarot card: The Star
In the tradition of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, each zodiac sign is linked with a Major Arcana card. Aquarius's card is The Star. Reading it alongside your sign adds another layer: its themes often echo the strengths and lessons above.
Born on the cusp?
Born on January 19 or 20, or on February 18 or 19? The Sun changes sign at a different time each year, so use the sign finder above with your birth time to know whether you are Capricorn or Aquarius, or Aquarius or Pisces.
Aquarius horoscope
Read the Aquarius horoscope today, the weekly Aquarius horoscope or the monthly Aquarius tarot horoscope, each with a tarot card drawn for the sign.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dates for Aquarius?
Usually January 20 to February 18. The exact start and end change by a day or so from year to year, so people born on those edges should check with the sign finder on this page.
What is Aquarius's element and ruling planet?
Aquarius is a fixed air sign, ruled by Saturn in traditional astrology and Uranus in modern astrology.
Which signs are most compatible with Aquarius?
Traditionally the other air signs, Gemini and Libra, and the fire signs Aries and Sagittarius. Leo, the opposite sign, often brings strong attraction.
What tarot card is Aquarius?
The Star, the card of hope, healing and inspiration.
Is Aquarius a water sign?
No. Despite the Water-Bearer symbol, Aquarius is an air sign. The water it pours is usually read as knowledge or inspiration shared with others.
Other zodiac signs
Sources and further reading
- Zodiac · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Astrology · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Jean Meeus, Astronomical Algorithms (2nd ed., 1998), chapter 25: the solar position formula used by the sign finder
- How our readings work: randomness, use of AI and limits · The Mystica
Written by The Mystica Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Last reviewed: October 25, 2026. Astrology is a traditional belief system; personality descriptions are offered for reflection and entertainment, not as scientific findings.