A group of signs is known as a ZODIAC, which is a six-letter word. The ZODIAC is an area of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. It contains the twelve constellations that mark out the path on which the Sun appears to travel over the course of a year. These constellations are also known as the twelve signs of the ZODIAC.