“What’s your sign?” has become a very volatile question to ask today. Millions of Scorpios are terribly upset to have possibly metamorphosed into Libras or even Virgos overnight. And there hasn’t been this much heavenly hubbub since Pluto was demoted from planet status in 2006.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it appears that the astrological community suddenly realized today that the stars have moved over the last few thousand years, and the zodiac has been given a long overdue realignment. As a result, most people have shifted back one sign, the long lost sign of Ophiuchus is now back with a vengeance, and Scorpios have been placed on the endangered species list.

I’m not sure if the new system will stick, or whether horoscopes are purported to be based on tropical zodiac signs or the actual position of the constellations, or whether the Chinese lunar calendar will have to restate quarterly earnings. Fortunately, I’m still a Taurus in the new system, so I’ve been spared from the potential identity crisis.

Questions for you: Do you believe in astrology at all? If you don’t, does your sign still matter to you, and why? Do you think some people will deliberately change their personality to fit their new sign? Are horoscopes dangerous?

(Below are the date ranges of the signs under three different systems. The tropical zodiac is the one you know and love; the IAU definition gives the new dates that everyone’s talking about. Dates are not set in stone, but vary each year depending on the timing of the vernal equinox, etc.)