We've all thumbed through our horoscope before, but ever take a deep dive into your moon sign? Here’s how to figure out what it is and what it means for you.

Flip open any newspaper or women’s magazine and you’re bound to find a page or two filled with horoscopes and other astrological predictions. Many of us look to astrology for a glimpse of what’s to come, or at least how we should respond to it. In fact, Pew Research found that one in four American adults believes in astrology. It can be a fun way to learn about who you are and imagine what the future holds. But there’s more to astrology than just reading your daily horoscope.

Moon signs are one of the most powerful factors when it comes to understanding astrology, but chances are you’ve never taken a deep dive into them.

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So, why should you care about moon signs, specifically? Well, while you probably think more about your own zodiac sign than any other astrological entity, the moon is actually the anchor of astrology. It is believed to represent the more internal parts of who we are as humans including our personal desires and emotional lives. As with zodiac signs, there are 12 possible moon signs. This breakdown will help you keep it all straight.

What determines your moon sign? Finding your moon sign goes beyond googling your birthday.

At one point or another, you may have looked up your zodiac sign and determined what it is based on your date of birth. The signs are broken up into the following categories, which are associated with the four elements:

Fire: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. These signs are active and a little emotionally impulsive.

Earth: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. These signs strive for emotional stability and security.

Air: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. These signs are curious and communicative and tend to intellectualize their feelings.

Water: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. These signs feel deeply and tend to have intense, though potentially hidden, emotional lives.

Why 12 signs? According to a University of Wisconsin resource on stars and constellations, “The Zodiac is the ring of constellations that the Sun seems to pass through each year as the Earth orbits around it.” Given that we watch the sun and moon up in the same sky, the moon “passes through” these constellations, too, meaning your moon sign will be one of the 12 zodiac signs, but it might not be the same as your sun sign.

Claire Comstock-Gay, a Sagittarius and the weekly astrologist for The Cut, says that our sun sign shapes our personality and helps define who we are in a broad sense. But sun signs don’t explain everything about us. That’s where our moon signs come into play.

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Unlike your sun sign, which is determined by the day of the year on which you were born, your moon sign is determined by the exact time—down to the minute—and location of your birth. This means determining your moon sign can be a little trickier. Amanda Renee, founder of Astrological Alignment, says the moon changes zodiac signs much faster than the sun (because, well, the moon has a much smaller orbit around the earth, right?)—visiting all 12 signs in approximately 28 days.

“The easiest way to determine your moon sign is to receive a personalized natal birth chart,” she tells HealthyWay. “To obtain this information, simply use a birth chart calculator. I personally use CafeAstrology.com. It is very user-friendly. Start by entering your date, time, and location of birth, click submit, and your entire natal chart will generate before your eyes!”

But what if you don’t know exactly when you were born?

“Not everyone knows what time they were born. What happens if this is you?” Amanda Renee acknowledges a question she’s heard before. “Not to fret—I may have a few solutions that could help you in determining your moon sign…”

1. Reach out.

“Always start by asking close friends and relatives,” says Amanda Renee. “They can help you pinpoint the time of your birth and perhaps, at minimum, figure out the general time frame. If friends or family can identify that you were born, say, in the wee hours of the morning versus in the afternoon, you can figure out your moon sign.”

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She goes on to give this example: “Because we know that the moon enters a new sign approximately every two and a half days, you can contact an astrologer or use astrological software to look up the moon’s positioning on and around your birthday. If you were born in the morning and the moon changed positions in the afternoon, you would know to choose the zodiac sign the moon was stationed in during the morning time.”

2. Make it official.

Unable to get the details from family or family friends? “Contact the hospital where you were born to ask for a copy of your birth certificate,” Amanda Renee advises. “Not all hospitals keep record of your time of birth, but most do.”

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This information may be available via the hospital or the bureau of vital statistics in the state where you were born. When you make the request, be clear that you want a copy that shows your time of birth, which is sometimes called a vault copy.

3. Use your powers of deduction.

If you’re not in a position to get information about your time of birth from relatives or a hospital, you can put in some legwork and let your heart be your guide.

“I must note that this will take a little work on your part, but I promise it is possible!” says Amanda Renee. “Start by contacting an expert astrologer or utilize free astrology software online. Your goal is to see what sign the moon could have possibly entered in the 24-hour period that is your birthday.”