The orb decides whether an aspect counts
An orb is how far an angle may stray from the exact aspect and still count. Each aspect on the chart prints the actual separation and that orb. Outside it, the aspect is not named.
Editorial review: 2026-09-22 · Reviewed by fateshow · Editorial method
Read the printed difference, not the picture
Two planets can look close on the wheel and still sit outside the orb. Use the angle that is listed.
Closer to exact is a more specific sentence
Half a degree and five degrees can both fall inside an orb, and they are not the same sentence. Include the difference.
A trine six degrees wide
Illustration: Venus and Jupiter’s exact trine is 120 degrees, the chart shows 126, and a 6-degree orb still counts it, with the 6 degrees named. A 5-degree orb would leave it out. Do not call a near miss already formed.
Common mistakes
- Calling a visual near miss an aspect.
- Naming a square or trine without the difference.
- Hearing the orb as a lucky-unlucky score.
Use it in fateshow
Frequently asked questions
Is a wider orb better?
A wider orb includes more angles and makes the sentence looser. It is not a quality score.
Do planets and angles share one orb?
Use the orb printed on that aspect. Do not copy a planet-to-planet range onto an angle unless the chart already lists it that way.
Can I widen the orb myself?
Widening it is a different rule. When you compare with this chart, start from the range it printed.
Sources and editorial basis
- 1. fateshow chart rule snapshot
Each generated report stores the engine settings that produced it. Compare those settings before treating two charts as the same calculation.
- 2. fateshow interpretation dictionary
Plain-language tendencies used in reports. They describe conditions and cautions, not fixed personality or inevitable outcomes.