What Western astrology is
Western astrology here uses the tropical zodiac to describe the sky at the birth moment. Ten planets sit in twelve signs; twelve houses divide that sky into areas of life. The Ascendant is the ecliptic degree rising on the eastern horizon; the Midheaven is the ecliptic degree due south. An aspect is the angular distance between two planets. You read sign, house and aspect — not a one-line fortune.
What is on the chart
Ten planets
Apparent ecliptic longitude from the Sun to Pluto, with retrograde state and essential dignity. Each planet lists sign, degree, house and daily speed — speed is what retrograde readings rest on.
Ascendant and Midheaven
Derived from the birth instant plus coordinates; they anchor the houses and are the two points most sensitive to clock error — four minutes moves the Ascendant about 1°.
Twelve houses and house systems
Placidus, Whole Sign or Equal houses. Different systems give different cusps for the same moment, so the choice is printed on the chart and can be switched and checked.
Aspects, elements and modalities
Every aspect lists its actual separation, orb and allowed orb, so a wide aspect is labelled wide. Elements and modalities are reported both as counts and as weighted values.
How the chart is cast
1.Restore the UT instant
The recorded clock time is converted back to a UTC instant, including historical offsets and daylight saving. Astrology does not use true solar time and has no 23:00 day boundary. A lunar date is converted to the Gregorian calendar first; the ephemeris only reads Gregorian UT.
2.Take ecliptic longitudes and solve houses
Geocentric apparent longitudes come from the ephemeris; sidereal time, obliquity and latitude solve the Ascendant, Midheaven and all twelve cusps. The node is the osculating true node. Houses default to Placidus and can be switched to Whole Sign or Equal.
3.Compute aspects and patterns
Aspects follow a published orb table, with actual separation, orb and allowed orb listed, plus grand trines, T-squares, grand crosses and stelliums, and the element, modality and moon-phase counts.
4.Charting and reading
The chart first computes planets, houses and aspects. The AI reading only explains those already-calculated fields: it does not invent a missing birth time or move the Ascendant.
Timezone: the recorded clock time is converted to a UTC instant using the birthplace timezone, and the birthplace coordinates are used for the houses. Check both for births abroad — the Ascendant moves about 1° every four minutes.
What you see after casting
After you cast the chart, the page lists results you can check line by line. It does not add a fortune line.
- Sign, degree, house, retrograde state and daily speed for ten planets.
- Sign and degree of the Ascendant and Midheaven.
- Twelve house cusps, and the house system in use.
- Aspects with actual separation, orb and allowed orb, plus patterns such as grand trines and T-squares.
- Element and modality counts and weights, moon phase, and the North Node.
- The restored UT instant, birthplace timezone and coordinates used this time.
Common questions
- What is a natal chart good for?
- Structure and tendency: your temperament, repeating patterns in relationships, the working style that fits you, and strengths you may be underrating. It contains no transits or progressions, so it is not suited to "what happens next month".
- Can I make decisions from this chart?
- For reference only — not a substitute for medical, legal or financial advice. Astrology shows structure and tendency; it does not decide for you.
- Why does the birth time matter so much?
- Planets move only a few degrees a day, but the Ascendant moves about 1° every four minutes, so clock error directly changes the rising sign and the position of all twelve houses.
- If another chart shows a different Ascendant, what should I check first?
- Align the birth time to the minute, and the birthplace coordinates. If those match and the Ascendant still differs, check whether both used the same house system. Compare the reading text last.
- What changes if I switch house systems?
- Planet longitudes and signs stay put. Cusps and house placements change. Placidus, Whole Sign and Equal houses give different cusps for the same moment, and the chart names the system in use.
- What is the difference between the chart and the AI reading?
- The chart computes planets, houses and aspects from the ephemeris and the chosen house system; the same input always matches. The AI reading only explains those already-calculated fields: it does not invent a missing birth time or move the Ascendant. If the Ascendant does not match, compare the chart first.
You can cast your own chart now: enter your birth details and get Ten planets, Twelve houses, Ascendant and Midheaven in one pass.
Open a chart