Sun sign — Astrology glossary

The Sun sign is the zodiac sign the Sun occupied at birth, determined by the date and changing roughly once a month. It is the sign people mean in everyday talk when they ask, what's your sign? Astrologers read it as the core of identity: the basic drive, ego, and the qualities a person grows into as they mature. It matters because it is the chart's central reference point, though serious astrology treats it as one factor among many rather than the whole picture. For example, someone born on 5 August has the Sun in Leo and is typically described as wanting to be seen, create, and take pride in their work; but their Moon and rising sign may soften or complicate that picture considerably.