Debate has erupted among astrologists after questionable reports emerged claiming birth dates corresponding to zodiac signs had changed.
The supposed "recalibration" of star signs, which have made headlines on several prominent news websites, have led to widespread confusion among horoscope believers.
The claims appear to have originated with a January 9 article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which explained that the current star signs were out of date.
According to the article, the current zodiac dates are based on data that was collected by ancient Babylonians thousands of years ago.
While our signs have stayed the same over the years, the earth's axis has changed due to a natural effect called precession.
Our planet is now aligned with different stars than it was previously, meaning the zodiac signs should be different.
The article quotes Parke Kunkle, a board member from the Minnesota Planetarium Society, who backed up the claim.
"When [astrologers] say that the sun is in Pisces, it's really not in Pisces," he said.
The article lists the "updated" star sign dates, which now include another sign — Ophiuchus — which was discarded by the Babylonians because they wanted 12 signs per year.
The claims have been carried far and wide on social networking sites, and have been reported in the Washington Post, MSNBC and ABC News in the US.
But the story has ignited controversy in the astrology community with many saying the precession effect is "nothing new" and had already been taken into consideration.
Astrologer Susan Miller told ABC News the news was "ridiculous".
"We've known about this for ages," she said.
"The constellations don't suggest what's coming up, it's the planets! The constellations are a measuring device."
"In ancient days there were, like, 50 constellations. Then they finally got together and agreed on 18. Then they narrowed it down," Miller said.
"I'm getting so many tweets. Trying to explain something technical in 140 characters is hard."
Kunkle, the astrologer quoted in the Star Tribune article, followed up on his statements in a later interview.
"Astronomers have known about this since 130 BC. Hipparchus was able to determine that this would happen," Kunkle said.
"It astounds me that this has taken off the way it has in the last day or two."
Your 'real' horoscope, according to the Star Tribune
Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries: April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29-Dec. 17.
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.
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