Special Summer Challenge Week: Leo vs Virgo!
For this summer’s Challenge Week, we’re going to mix it up a bit! Join us for a week-long VS competition in August where we celebrate the month’s two zodiac signs – Leo vs Virgo!
The competition will begin on August 14th at 8 AM ET and run until August 21st at 8 AM ET.
We’ll end the week with our Closing Ceremony on Friday August 22nd at 4 PM ET, where we’ll celebrate our participants, award points, and announce promotions.
Whether you’re a die-hard astrology aficionado or think it’s a bit of non-scientific fluff, we hope you’ll enjoy the spirit of this competition and maybe learn a bit more about your fellow Eyewirers! Any Leos or Virgos in the chat? Wish them a happy birthday month!
History of the Zodiac
The zodiac is a belt shaped region of the sky that contains the moon and the sky’s brightest planets. Each section of the zodiac region corresponds to one of 12 signs, each depicted by a constellation contained within the region.
The zodiac system dates back to Babylonian Astronomy in ancient Mesopotamia, during the 8th and 7th century BC. The Babylonians utilized the zodiac for both astronomical and astrological purposes – they were the first civilization with a functional theory of the planets. They used it to track the sun’s yearly cycle, and showed how celestial events correlated to terrestrial events. The zodiac was used to craft a calendar, and facilitated the study of advanced mathematics.
On the astrology side, the Babylonians also used the zodiac to decipher omens from the gods. Horoscopes predicted good or bad fortunes that might fall upon children born under particular alignments of the starts. But not to worry – if your stars predicted misfortune, a Babylonian priest could perform a ritual to prevent it.
Are you an Ophiuchus rising? The Bablyonians actually recognized 13 major constellations rather than 12! Unfortunately the Babylonian calendar was already divided into 12 sections and Ophiuchus didn’t make the cut. But if you were born between November 30th and December 17th, maybe you identify with the curiosity, creativity, and rebellious personality of the serpent bearer.
Ophiuchus isn’t the only zodiac anomaly. Though we still associate the zodiac signs with the Babylonian calendar, they actually no longer match up with what we see in the sky. Due to the “precession of the equinoxes” – a slow wobble in the earth’s rotation, the earth no longer aligns with the stars during the same months as in Babylonian times. Some food for thought!
Now onto our August signs!
Leo
Leo, the lion, is associated with those born July 23 – August 22.
Leo is a fire sign, and those born under this sign are known to be outgoing, gregarious, loyal, creative, and natural leaders.
Whether you were born as a Leo, identify with the Leo personality, or just really like lions, this may be the team for you!
Virgo
Virgo, the maiden, is associated with those born August 23 – September 22.
Virgo is an earth sign, with those born under the sign known for their intelligence, attention to detail, and grounded personalities.
All great skills for playing Eyewire! If you were born under the Virgo sign or just feel like a Virgo at heart, this is your team!
Now that you’ve learned a little about these signs, join us on this Challenge Week adventure! Just as the Babylonians used the zodiac for both astrology and astronomy, we too use Eyewire for both fun and science! Let the science fun begin!