December 21 by year
Read the clock time in your row: before it you were a Sagittarius, from that minute on a Capricorn. Rows that say Sagittarius all day stop in 2011 for Eastern time and 1995 for Pacific time.
Faster: enter your year above and you get your answer without the table.
Shown: 2021 to 2030. Born earlier? Tap Show all years under the table, then jump to your decade.
| Year | Eastern time | Pacific time |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Sagittarius until 10:59 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 7:59 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2022 | Sagittarius until 4:47 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 1:47 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2023 | Sagittarius until 10:27 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 7:27 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2024 | Sagittarius until 4:20 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 1:20 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2025 | Sagittarius until 10:03 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 7:03 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2026 | Sagittarius until 3:50 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:50 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2027 | Sagittarius until 9:42 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 6:42 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2028 | Sagittarius until 3:20 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:20 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2029 | Sagittarius until 9:14 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 6:14 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2030 | Sagittarius until 3:09 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:09 p.m., then Capricorn |
Show all years, 1930 to 2030
1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s2030s
| Year | Eastern time | Pacific time |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 8:39 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 5:39 a.m.) |
| 1931 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 2:29 p.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 11:29 a.m.) |
| 1932 | Sagittarius until 8:14 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 5:14 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1933 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 1:57 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 10:57 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1934 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 7:49 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 4:49 a.m.) |
| 1935 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 1:36 p.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 10:36 a.m.) |
| 1936 | Sagittarius until 7:26 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 4:26 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1937 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 1:21 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 10:21 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1938 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 7:13 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 4:13 a.m.) |
| 1939 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 1:05 p.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 10:05 a.m.) |
| 1940 | Sagittarius until 6:54 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 3:54 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1941 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 12:44 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 9:44 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1942 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 7:39 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 4:39 a.m.) |
| 1943 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 1:29 p.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 10:29 a.m.) |
| 1944 | Sagittarius until 7:15 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 4:15 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1945 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 12:03 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 9:03 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1946 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 5:53 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 2:53 a.m.) |
| 1947 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 11:42 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 8:42 a.m.) |
| 1948 | Sagittarius until 5:33 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 3:33 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1949 | Sagittarius until 11:23 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 8:23 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1950 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 5:13 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 2:13 a.m.) |
| 1951 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 11:00 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 8:00 a.m.) |
| 1952 | Sagittarius until 4:43 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 1:43 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1953 | Sagittarius until 10:31 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 7:31 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1954 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 4:24 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 1:24 a.m.) |
| 1955 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 10:11 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 7:11 a.m.) |
| 1956 | Sagittarius until 3:59 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:59 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1957 | Sagittarius until 9:49 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 6:49 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1958 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 3:39 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 12:39 a.m.) |
| 1959 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 9:34 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 6:34 a.m.) |
| 1960 | Sagittarius until 3:26 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:26 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1961 | Sagittarius until 9:19 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 6:19 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1962 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 3:14 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 12:14 a.m.) |
| 1963 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 9:01 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 6:01 a.m.) |
| 1964 | Sagittarius until 2:49 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 11:49 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 1965 | Sagittarius until 8:40 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 5:40 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1966 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 2:28 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 11:28 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1967 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 8:16 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 5:16 a.m.) |
| 1968 | Sagittarius until 2:00 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 11:00 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 1969 | Sagittarius until 7:43 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 4:43 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1970 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 1:35 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 10:35 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1971 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 7:23 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 4:23 a.m.) |
| 1972 | Sagittarius until 1:13 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 10:13 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 1973 | Sagittarius until 7:08 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 4:08 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1974 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 12:55 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 9:55 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1975 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 6:45 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 3:45 a.m.) |
| 1976 | Sagittarius until 12:35 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 9:35 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 1977 | Sagittarius until 6:22 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 3:22 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1978 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 12:20 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 9:20 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1979 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 6:09 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 3:09 a.m.) |
| 1980 | Sagittarius until 11:56 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 8:56 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 1981 | Sagittarius until 5:50 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 2:50 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1982 | Sagittarius until 11:37 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 8:37 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1983 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 5:30 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 2:30 a.m.) |
| 1984 | Sagittarius until 11:23 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 8:23 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 1985 | Sagittarius until 5:08 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 2:08 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1986 | Sagittarius until 11:01 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 8:01 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1987 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 4:46 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 1:46 a.m.) |
| 1988 | Sagittarius until 10:28 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 7:28 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 1989 | Sagittarius until 4:22 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 1:22 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1990 | Sagittarius until 10:06 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 7:06 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1991 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 3:53 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 12:53 a.m.) |
| 1992 | Sagittarius until 9:43 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 6:43 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 1993 | Sagittarius until 3:26 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:26 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1994 | Sagittarius until 9:22 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 6:22 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1995 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 3:17 a.m.) | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 12:17 a.m.) |
| 1996 | Sagittarius until 9:06 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 6:06 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 1997 | Sagittarius until 3:07 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:07 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1998 | Sagittarius until 8:56 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 5:56 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 1999 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 2:44 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 11:44 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2000 | Sagittarius until 8:37 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 5:37 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2001 | Sagittarius until 2:21 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 11:21 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2002 | Sagittarius until 8:14 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 5:14 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2003 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 2:03 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 11:03 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2004 | Sagittarius until 7:41 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 4:41 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2005 | Sagittarius until 1:35 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 10:35 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2006 | Sagittarius until 7:21 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 4:21 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2007 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 1:07 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 10:07 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2008 | Sagittarius until 7:03 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 4:03 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2009 | Sagittarius until 12:46 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 9:46 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2010 | Sagittarius until 6:38 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 3:38 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2011 | Sagittarius all day (Capricorn from Dec 22, 12:30 a.m.) | Sagittarius until 9:30 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2012 | Sagittarius until 6:11 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 3:11 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2013 | Sagittarius until 12:11 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 9:11 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2014 | Sagittarius until 6:02 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 3:02 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2015 | Sagittarius until 11:48 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 8:48 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2016 | Sagittarius until 5:44 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 2:44 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2017 | Sagittarius until 11:28 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 8:28 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2018 | Sagittarius until 5:22 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 2:22 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2019 | Sagittarius until 11:19 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 8:19 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2020 | Sagittarius until 5:02 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 2:02 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2021 | Sagittarius until 10:59 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 7:59 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2022 | Sagittarius until 4:47 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 1:47 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2023 | Sagittarius until 10:27 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 7:27 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2024 | Sagittarius until 4:20 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 1:20 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2025 | Sagittarius until 10:03 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 7:03 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2026 | Sagittarius until 3:50 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:50 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2027 | Sagittarius until 9:42 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 6:42 p.m., then Capricorn |
| 2028 | Sagittarius until 3:20 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:20 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2029 | Sagittarius until 9:14 a.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 6:14 a.m., then Capricorn |
| 2030 | Sagittarius until 3:09 p.m., then Capricorn | Sagittarius until 12:09 p.m., then Capricorn |
Times are clock times of that year in New York and Los Angeles, from the astronomy-engine ephemeris, rounded to the minute, with the daylight saving rules in force at the time. Central and Mountain time fall between the two columns.
Sagittarius and Capricorn: the two signs of December 21
| ♐︎ Sagittarius | ♑︎ Capricorn | |
|---|---|---|
| Element | Fire | Earth |
| Quality | Mutable | Cardinal |
| Ruler | Jupiter | Saturn |
Tradition gives the two signs different ways of deciding. Capricorn is cardinal earth with Saturn as ruler. Cardinal signs open projects, and the Capricorn reading opens with a schedule and a budget. Saturn, the planet of limits, earns the sign its reputation for choosing the route with the best odds over the fastest one, and for finishing what it signs up for. Sagittarius is mutable fire, answering to Jupiter, and is read as deciding by conviction: it picks the option that feels biggest, begins at speed, sorting out the details on the way.
In the workplace readings the Capricorn colleague wants the deadline in writing and the Sagittarius colleague wants to know what the work is for. One is said to overbuild the plan before any step is taken; the other to underestimate how long a leap will take.
On this site: Moon in Sagittarius, Moon in Capricorn, Venus in Sagittarius, Venus in Capricorn, Mars in Sagittarius, Mars in Capricorn, Mercury in Sagittarius, Mercury in Capricorn.
Each sign in full: Sagittarius zodiac sign · Capricorn zodiac sign; how the two get along: Sagittarius and Capricorn compatibility.
The year ahead for both sides of December 21: Sagittarius horoscope 2027 · Capricorn horoscope 2027.
How often Sagittarius and Capricorn come up among birth dates from 1930 to 2025, and why websites name different signs for the same day: zodiac sign statistics.Sagittarius belongs to the fire element with two other signs: fire signs. Where Capricorn stands among Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn: earth signs.
Which sign is December 21, Sagittarius or Capricorn?
Where December 22 leans Capricorn nearly every year, December 21 hangs on the clock. Eastern time gives 38 all-Sagittarius dates and 58 split dates out of 96, and never a pure Capricorn one.
The way to settle yours is to compare two times: the one on your birth certificate and the one in your year's row. Earlier than the row means Sagittarius.
How December 21 changed over the decades
8 of the ten 1930s dates were whole-day Sagittarius in Eastern time, against 1 in the 2010s and 0 so far in the 2020s. Split days numbered 2 in the 1930s and 9 in the 2010s.
The whole-day Sagittarius years follow the calendar. None of them is a leap year, and none comes after 2011. The Sun's entry slides later through the three years after a leap day, then jumps back, and over the decades that jump has landed on December 21 more and more often.
What time is the December solstice on December 21?
The 2026 solstice falls at 3:50 p.m. Eastern, when the Sun reaches 0° Capricorn. A baby born at 3 p.m. that day is a Sagittarius, one born at 4 p.m. a Capricorn.
Evening entries led among the split years, with 24 of them, followed by 19 in the afternoon, 12 in the morning and 3 before 6 a.m. The span ran 4:20 a.m. (2024) to 11:48 p.m. (2015), so a December 21 Capricorn is likelier to be an evening baby than a morning one.
Questions about the December 21 zodiac sign
Does Capricorn begin on December 21?
Often, but only for part of the day. Eastern clocks show the crossing on December 21 itself in 58 of 96 counted years, so the date began in Sagittarius and finished in Capricorn.
What sign is the Sun in on December 21, 2026?
Sagittarius first, then Capricorn from 3:50 p.m. Eastern. West Coast clocks show the same moment as 12:50 p.m.
Does December 21 count as a cusp date?
Cusp books treat it that way: Goldschneider calls the days around it the Cusp of Prophecy. A chart gives the Sun a single sign for your birth moment, and the table above shows which.
What element is December 21?
Fire before the change and earth after it, since Sagittarius is a fire sign and Capricorn an earth sign.
Was December 21 ever all Capricorn?
No. Across 1930 to 2025, no U.S. zone gave a whole-Capricorn December 21. The sign held 20.4% of the day on average on Eastern clocks.
When was December 21 last a whole day of Sagittarius?
Eastern clocks last showed it in 2011, Pacific clocks in 1995. Every year after those has been a split day.
Sources
- Astronomy Engine: the open-source ephemeris library behind our planet positions, dates and statistics
- How we create our readings: our own calculation of sign dates, positions and the 1930 to 2025 statistics
Other cusp birthdays
Every date where the zodiac sign depends on the year or the hour, grouped by the change of sign:
- ♓︎ Pisces to ♈︎ Aries: March 19 · March 20 · March 21
- ♈︎ Aries to ♉︎ Taurus: April 19 · April 20
- ♉︎ Taurus to ♊︎ Gemini: May 20 · May 21
- ♊︎ Gemini to ♋︎ Cancer: June 20 · June 21 · June 22
- ♋︎ Cancer to ♌︎ Leo: July 22 · July 23
- ♌︎ Leo to ♍︎ Virgo: August 22 · August 23
- ♍︎ Virgo to ♎︎ Libra: September 22 · September 23
- ♎︎ Libra to ♏︎ Scorpio: October 22 · October 23 · October 24
- ♏︎ Scorpio to ♐︎ Sagittarius: November 21 · November 22 · November 23
- ♐︎ Sagittarius to ♑︎ Capricorn: December 21 · December 22
- ♑︎ Capricorn to ♒︎ Aquarius: January 19 · January 20 · January 21
- ♒︎ Aquarius to ♓︎ Pisces: February 18 · February 19
Written by The Zodiac Atlas editorial team with the help of AI and edited by a person. Every time and count on this page comes from our own run of the astronomy-engine ephemeris (tropical zodiac) over the years 1930 to 2030, with historical US time zone rules. Astrology is a symbolic tradition, not a science.