You’re probably already familiar with your sun sign — it’s determined by your date and month of birth, and is most often what pop astrology refers to when referencing your sign. However, your moon and rising/ascendant signs are equally important aspects of your zodiac personality, and with your sun sign create a full picture of your outer and inner self. So, what do the different types of signs mean? We’re here to help break it down.
What Does Rising Mean in Astrology?
When we talk about rising or ascendant in astrology, we are referring to the zodiac sign that was on the Eastern horizon when you were born. This is different from your sun sign. Knowing the exact time and location that you were born is important for calculating your rising sign correctly, because the ascendant sign changes every two hours of the day.
Rising/Ascendant Sign Meaning
Your rising sign (also known as your ascendant sign) is your outer self and social personality. It represents your physical body and outward style—the way you express yourself. Your rising sign characterizes your natural first response to new people and situations, as well as how others perceive you on a first impression basis. Rising signs are often thought of as masks you put on for others, but astrologers like Priya Kale think they’re more than that, telling VICE that “your rising sign describes the vessel for the spirit, soul, and consciousness within you.”
Rising/Ascendant Sign Compatibility
Your rising sign represents your outer self and social personality, meaning that in romantic relationships, your rising sign heavily influences initial encounters and first impressions. The rising sign is indicative of an automatic, natural reaction to new people. Be careful, however—people may hide behind an ascendant “mask”, while the moon sign is a more accurate expression of one’s true personality in relationships.
Because your rising sign characterizes initial attraction, compatibility between rising signs is less important. In this case, the adage “opposites attract” can apply, and those with incompatible rising signs may find themselves drawn to one another.
How to Calculate Your Rising/Ascendant Sign
Your rising sign is the sign that was rising on the eastern horizon when you were born. Your ascendant sign, or rising sign, is easily determined as long as you know your sun sign and the time of your birth. Just follow the chart to find yours!
Rising/Ascendant Sign Traits
Traits others perceive in each rising sign.
Aries Ascendant
Action-oriented, straightforward, quick
Famous Aries Ascendants: John Lennon, Shakira, Heath Ledger, Rihanna
Taurus Ascendant
Slow, steady, reserved
Famous Taurus Ascendants: Martin Luther King, Miley Cyrus, David Beckham, Halle Berry
Gemini Ascendant
Curious, sociable, playful
Famous Gemini Ascendants: Lady Gaga, Will Smith, Lindsay Lohan, Matthew McConaughey
Cancer Ascendant
Kind, sensitive, watchful
Famous Cancer Ascendants: Bill Gates, Adele, Vincent Van Gogh, Meghan Markle
Leo Ascendant
Friendly, cheerful, confident
Famous Leo Ascendants: Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Depp, Selena Gomez, Andy Warhol
Virgo Ascendant
Conscientious, self-critical, helpful
Famous Virgo Ascendants: Freddy Mercury, Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, Julie Andrews
Libra Ascendant
Charming, fair-minded, agreeable
Famous Libra Ascendants: Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Aniston, John F. Kennedy
Scorpio Ascendant
Polarizing, magnetic, captivating
Famous Scorpio Ascendants: Taylor Swift, Tom Cruise, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Jim Carrey
Sagittarius Ascendant
Fun, animated, bubbly
Famous Sagittarius Ascendants: Brad Pitt, Princess Diana, Elvis Presley, Kim Kardashian
Capricorn Ascendant
Motivated, mature, family-oriented
Famous Capricorn Ascendants: Cristiano Ronaldo, Elizabeth II, John Legend, Rosa Parks
Aquarius Ascendant
Creative, intelligent, surprising
Famous Aquarius Ascendants: Barack Obama, Nicki Minaj, David Bowie, Audrey Hepburn
Pisces Ascendant
Whimsical, idealistic, compassionate
Famous Pisces Ascendants: Billie Eilish, Johnny Cash, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Stamos
Moon Sign Meaning
Your moon sign meaning is related to your deepest self. In fact, your astrology moon sign represents your inner emotional self, embodying how you process emotions. It is your emotional identity that typically stays hidden and speaks to the soul behind your identity. Everything that you keep to yourself—your deepest desires, emotions, and memories—is ruled by your astrology moon sign. There’s also an intimate relationship between your moon sign and what you need to maintain emotional security. Whereas surface-level relationships see traits governed by your ascendant sign, your more private connections gain insight to traits governed by your moon sign.
Moon Sign Compatibility
Moon sign compatibility is a much more important factor than rising sign compatibility; having moon signs in similar elements yields the potential for very deep personal connections. When considering words like “soulmate," your moon sign compatibility should be top of mind. Because your moon sign is tied to your innermost desires and requirements for emotional security, it’s a hugely important factor in your romantic relationships. View your most compatible moon signs here.
How to Calculate Your Moon Sign
Your moon sign depends on your position around the moon when you were born; it is determined by your sun sign along with your time and place of birth. Use Cafe Astrology’s Moon Sign Calculator here.
Moon Sign Desires
Things that emotionally satisfy each moon sign.
Aries Moon
Independence, challenge, action
Famous Aries Moon Signs: Edgar Allen Poe, Whitney Houston, Salvador Dali, Angelina Jolie
Taurus Moon
Stability, security, devotion
Famous Taurus Moon Signs: Bob Dylan, Meryl Streep, Bill Clinton, Demi Lovato
Gemini Moon
Stimulation, conversation, novelty
Famous Gemini Moon Signs: Jennifer Lawrence, Sigmund Freud, 50 Cent, Priyanka Chopra
Cancer Moon
Safety, comfort, nurturing
Famous Cancer Moon Signs: Kurt Cobain, Kate Middleton, Drake, Drew Barrymore
Leo Moon
Attention, generosity, entertainment
Famous Leo Moon Signs: Julia Roberts, David Bowie, Paris Hilton, Paul McCartney
Virgo Moon
Structure, feeling useful, logic
Famous Virgo Moon Signs: Madonna, Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, Samuel L. Jackson
Libra Moon
Peace, cooperation, equality
Famous Libra Moon Signs: Malala Yousafzai, John Krasinski, Alicia Keys, Terry Crews
Scorpio Moon
Passion, mystery, privacy
Famous Scorpio Moon Signs: Charlie Chaplin, Lisa Kudrow, Bob Marley, Avril Lavigne
Sagittarius Moon
Adventure, newness, freedom
Famous Sagittarius Moon Signs: Pablo Picasso, Oprah Winfrey, Justin Timberlake, Ellen Page
Capricorn Moon
Ambition, success, power
Famous Capricorn Moon Signs: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emma Roberts, Matt Damon, Sarah Jessica Parker
Aquarius Moon
Friendship, individualism, morality
Famous Aquarius Moon Signs: John Lennon, Sandra Bullock, Cara Delevingne, Denzel Washington
Pisces Moon
Understanding, art, connection
Famous Pisces Moon Signs: Grace Kelly, Kanye West, Coco Chanel, Leonardo da Vinci
Sun Sign Meaning
Your sun sign is your core identity, representing your ego and your passions. Similar to the Sun being at the center of the solar system, your sun sign is the center of your zodiac personality. It speaks to how you experience life and the type of energy that fuels you. This is the most popular, well-known sign, and is typically what most people mean when referencing your astrological sign. The horoscopes here on Starlies are sun sign horoscopes!
Sun Sign Compatibility
While moon sign compatibility is intimately tied to emotional needs and security, sun sign compatibility combines aspects of surface-level attraction and personality concordance with a deeper emotional connection to paint an overall picture of your compatibility with someone. Use our Zodiac Compatibility Calculator to assess your sun sign compatibility!
How to Calculate Your Sun Sign
Your sun sign is determined by your month and date of birth.
- Aries: March 21st – April 19th
- Taurus: April 20th – May 20th
- Gemini: May 21st – June 20th
- Cancer: June 21st – July 22nd
- Leo: July 23rd – August 22nd
- Virgo: August 23rd – September 22nd
- Libra: September 23rd – October 22nd
- Scorpio: October 23rd – November 21st
- Sagittarius: November 22nd – December 21st
- Capricorn: December 22nd – January 19th
- Aquarius: January 20th – February 18th
- Pisces: February 19th – March 20th
Sun Sign Facts and Traits
Starlies features sun sign profiles with facts and traits about each sign, including its element, polarity, mode, ruling planet, ruling house, color, flower, and qualities. Click here to view details about any particular sign that you’re interested in!