ELI5: What are rising and moon signs?

Your rising sign is like your first impression, and your moon sign is like your hidden feelings.

Imagine you're like a house. Your sun sign (which everyone usually knows, like if you're a Leo or a Scorpio) is the house itself - its main structure and what everyone sees. But a house has a front door and a cozy living room inside.

• Your rising sign, also called the ascendant, is like the front door. It's the first thing people notice about you when they meet you. It's the mask you wear to face the world. Maybe you're shy (a Cancer rising), so you seem quiet and reserved at first, even if you're actually a super outgoing Leo sun sign inside the house. Or maybe you're energetic (an Aries rising), so you come across as confident and eager, even if you're a more thoughtful Virgo sun sign. To find your rising sign, you need to know the exact time and place you were born because it changes every couple of hours.

• Your moon sign is like the cozy living room. It's where you go to relax and be yourself. It represents your emotions, your instincts, and your inner world. It's how you react to things emotionally. For example, someone with a Gemini moon might process their feelings by talking and writing, while someone with a Taurus moon might find comfort in food or physical touch. Your moon sign is usually more apparent to the people who know you well.