May Zodiac Sign
Revised . First published .
Your May zodiac sign is either Taurus or Gemini. From May 1 to May 19 you're a Taurus, and after May 21 you're a Gemini. On May 20 and May 21, the exact hour of your birth decides your sign.
- ♉ Taurus
- From May 1 through 20
- ♊ Gemini
- From May 21 through 31
- Cusp dates
- From May 20 through 21
Taurus and Gemini dates for May
During May's first 3 weeks, your birthday almost certainly places you under Taurus. From late April to around May 20, the Sun passes through all 30 degrees of Taurus. To astrologers, Taurus is an earth sign. Traditional astrology sees you as steady and practical, and drawn to comfort that you can build and keep.
May's next sign starts when the Sun arrives at 0°00′ Gemini on May 20 or May 21. A birthday from May 22 through May 31 always makes you a Gemini. For those dates, your birth time doesn't matter. Gemini is an air sign, astrologers say. This placement makes them think of you as curious, talkative and quick to learn.
Each year, when the Sun moves into Gemini
| Year | Sun enters Gemini |
|---|---|
| 2020 | May 20, 9:49 AM EDT |
| 2021 | May 20, 3:36 PM EDT |
| 2022 | May 20, 9:22 PM EDT |
| 2023 | May 21, 3:08 AM EDT |
| 2024 | May 20, 8:59 AM EDT |
| 2025 | May 20, 2:54 PM EDT |
| 2026 | May 20, 8:37 PM EDT |
| 2027 | May 21, 2:17 AM EDT |
| 2028 | May 20, 8:09 AM EDT |
| 2029 | May 20, 1:55 PM EDT |
| 2030 | May 20, 7:40 PM EDT |
| 2031 | May 21, 1:27 AM EDT |
Why does the changeover date shift between May 20 and May 21?
Your calendar has 365 days. Earth actually needs about 365 days and 6 hours to travel around the Sun. The extra 6 hours mean that, each year, the Sun arrives at 0°00′ Gemini about 6 hours later. A leap day moves the moment back every 4 years. Because of this, your cutoff date falls on May 20 in some years and on May 21 in other years.
Your birth hour and time zone determine your sign on the changeover day. Imagine that on May 20, the Sun enters Gemini at 9:00 AM EDT. If your New York birth was at 7:30 AM that morning, the Sun remains at 29°56′ Taurus. A 10:15 AM birth makes you a Gemini. To find the right degree, we check the exact time and city of your birth.
- Use your birth certificate to find the exact time and city where you were born.
- Provide your date, time and city to a birth chart calculator that handles time zone adjustments.
- Check the Sun degree to learn whether it's in Taurus's final degrees or beyond 0°00′ Gemini.
Where Taurus and Gemini share traits and differ
As neighboring signs, Taurus and Gemini differ greatly in astrologers' view because the sequence moves from earth to air. Taurus belongs to the fixed signs, which places it in the middle of spring. According to astrologers, once you've made a plan, it helps you remain steady. As the mutable sign that ends the season, Gemini makes astrologers view you as adaptable and ready for a new direction.
Despite their differences, both of the 2 signs show a warm interest in the daily life before you. Dark grudges aren't a known trait of either sign. Astrologers say a Taurus takes pleasure in good food, music and company you know well. If you're a Gemini, they say that same easy warmth comes through in lively conversations with neighbors and friends.
People's questions
If you're born on the cusp, can you show traits of both Taurus and Gemini?
Within astrology, the cusp marks where the dividing line between 2 signs lies. When you are born, the Sun occupies only 1 sign. Even so, Venus and Mercury travel near the Sun. It's possible to have a Taurus Sun and Mercury in Gemini. Astrologers say Taurus steadiness combined with Gemini speech comes from this mix.
If my birth time is unknown on May 20 or May 21, what can I do?
On your birth date, we can check when the Sun changed signs in your time zone. Some years bring the switch close to midnight. Even then, 1 sign covers almost the entire day. If the switch happened at midday, you'll have to request your birth certificate in long form from the vital records office serving your birthplace.
What planets rule Taurus and Gemini?
Each sign has a ruling planet whose influence shapes its style in astrology. The ruling planet of Taurus is Venus. Traditional astrology links Venus with your enjoyment of affection, art, money and physical comfort. Gemini has Mercury as its ruling planet. Astrologers connect Mercury with language, memory, short trips and the way you exchange news with those nearby.