Zodiac signs
Cancer (Karka)
Cancer, the Crab, is a cardinal water sign ruled by the Moon. The Sun is in tropical (Western) Cancer from June 21 – July 22, and in sidereal (Vedic) Cancer — called Karka — from about July 16 – August 16. The sign is associated with feeling, home and protection.
| Symbol | the Crab |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit name | Karka |
| Element | Water |
| Modality | Cardinal |
| Ruling planet | Moon |
| Zodiac degrees | 90° – 120° |
| Opposite sign | Capricorn |
| Exalted here | Jupiter |
| Debilitated here | Mars |
| Nakshatras (sidereal) | Punarvasu (pada 4), Pushya (all four padas), Ashlesha (all four padas) |
| Western (tropical) dates | June 21 – July 22 |
| Vedic (sidereal) dates | about July 16 – August 16 |
| Sun enters, 2026 (tropical) | 21 June 2026, 08:25 UTC |
| Sun enters, 2026 (sidereal) | 16 July 2026, 18:06 UTC |
Why two sets of dates: the tropical zodiac is tied to the seasons and the sidereal zodiac to the constellations. The equinoxes have drifted about 24° against the stars since the zodiacs coincided (the Lahiri ayanamsa is 24°13′ in 2026), so the Sun enters sidereal Cancer roughly three and a half weeks after it enters tropical Cancer. The 2026 ingresses above are computed from the Sun's position, to the minute.
In Vedic astrology Karka holds Punarvasu (pada 4), Pushya (all four padas) and Ashlesha (all four padas). A Moon here is read through both the sign and its nakshatra.
Your Sun sign is only one placement: your Moon sign and your rising sign (ascendant) are read at least as closely, and Vedic astrology gives the Moon sign the most weight of all.
Questions
What are the dates for Cancer?
In Western (tropical) astrology, June 21 – July 22. In Vedic (sidereal) astrology, about July 16 – August 16. Both vary by about a day from year to year; in 2026 the Sun entered tropical Cancer on 21 June 2026, 08:25 UTC and sidereal Cancer on 16 July 2026, 18:06 UTC.
What is the ruling planet of Cancer?
The Moon.
Which nakshatras are in Cancer?
In the sidereal zodiac, Punarvasu (pada 4), Pushya (all four padas) and Ashlesha (all four padas).
Which planet is exalted in Cancer?
Jupiter, in the Parashari scheme.
What is Cancer called in Vedic astrology?
Karka.
In Plutto
Plutto reads your Sun, Moon and rising sign in both zodiacs — and says which one each tradition means. Background: Western astrology.
Ask it something you actually want to know.