If your birthday is in October before 23 October, your star sign is Libra. From 23 October onwards it is Scorpio. The changeover can move by a day in some years, so for a birthday right on 23 October it's worth checking the year.
October zodiac sign dates
- Libra: 23 September to 22 October
- Scorpio: 23 October to 21 November
Where the Sun really is in October
The Sun is in Virgo for the whole of October, until about 31 October. Every Libra birthday and most Scorpio birthdays in October fall with the Sun in Virgo, the largest of the zodiac constellations.
The October gap between sign and constellation comes from the slow wobble of the Earth's axis. The zodiac signs and constellations guide explains why Libra and Scorpio have drifted, and Ophiuchus is the one the signs leave out.
What is in the October evening sky
October evenings have Pegasus high in the south, Pisces below it and the Andromeda Galaxy overhead later on. The clocks go back on the last Sunday, so it gets dark early again.
Libra and Scorpio in the sky
The brightest point of Libra is Zubeneschamali, and of Scorpius, Antares. Both are drawn in the series of twelve Libra constellation print and Scorpio constellation print, in near-black, gold and warm ivory.
Libra and Scorpio belong to different elements: the zodiac elements guide sorts all twelve signs into fire, earth, air and water.
For a October birthday, a personalised star map charts the stars over the place someone was born, on the night itself, and the preview is free.