Weather, Zodiac, Chess and Card Symbols
This page gathers Unicode’s smaller symbol sets that do not fit neatly elsewhere: the zodiac signs, chess and card game pieces, weather marks like the sun and snowflake, and a handful of recycling and warning symbols. Most were added for print and reference use well before emoji existed, and several now have a colour emoji version alongside this plain text one.
None of these have a Windows Alt code. Copy the character directly, or use its HTML entity or Unicode value.
Questions
Why do some of these symbols also exist as emoji?
Many were added to Unicode originally as plain text symbols, for print and technical use, before emoji existed. Some later gained a colour emoji version that renders instead, depending on the font and platform.
Is there an Alt code for the zodiac signs?
No. Copy the character directly, or use its Unicode value.
What is the difference between the plain and emoji version of a symbol like the snowflake?
They share the same Unicode code point. Whether it renders as plain text or a colour emoji depends on the font and an optional variation selector some platforms apply automatically.
Why does the same zodiac symbol mean something different in astronomy and astrology?
Astronomy originally used these symbols as shorthand for planets and constellations. Astrology adopted the same glyphs for the zodiac signs, and both uses have stayed in Unicode side by side.
Is there a recycling symbol in this set?
Yes. The universal recycling symbol sits here, along with the seven numbered plastic recycling codes used on packaging.