Zodiac

A unique convergence exists where observation meets interpretation. Astronomical Astrology blends empirical astronomical wisdom with traditional astrological insights. Conventional astrology systems have become disconnected from where celestial bodies actually appear in the sky. Astronomical Astrology grounds itself in precise observation of the Sun, Moon and planets as they travel through space. The precession of the equinoxes matters, as do the true dimensions of constellations.

Traditional systems divide the sky into twelve equal segments. Astronomical Astrology rejects this approximation in favour of actual observation. Planets have complex orbits. The Moon tilts in its path. These bodies sometimes appear outside the standard zodiac boundaries, so precision and calculations matter. This focus aligns astrology with genuine cosmic mechanics rather than static symbolic systems that ignore how celestial positions shift over millennia.  Through Astronomical Astrology, you gain a dynamic framework for understanding yourself in relation to the universe.

Everything in the universe follows predictable patterns. Your thoughts follow patterns. Your emotions, reactions and so much more all follow patterns. All matter and energy operate according to observable principles. Astronomical Astrology recognises this fundamental reality. The extended zodiac provides the celestial framework of thirteen primary constellations, accompanied by nearby secondary constellations. Tracking celestial bodies’ movement through these constellations gives a true picture of some of the energetic influences in your life. Subtle energetic currents shape your personality traits. They influence your responses. They affect your life events. Myth meets measurable reality, as you can gain a scientifically aligned perspective on an ancient practice.

Astronomical Astrology invites you to become aware of the energies that surround you. How do these cosmic patterns intersect with your personal experience? This practice illuminates the interplay between cosmic order and human life. Energy can be studied. Alignment can be understood if you approach astrology, not as superstition, but as a legitimate study. Through the study of Astronomical Astrology, the greater flow of the universe can be observed and applied to your life.

Are you ready for a more truthful astrology and explore the cosmos with Astronomical Astrology? To gain a more accurate understanding of life’s energies, Astronomical Astrology considers the actual dimensions of the eighteen constellations traversed by the Sun, Moon, and planets, using the IAU’s observable boundaries rather than the simplified, equal segments of traditional astrology. This approach acknowledges the varying sizes of constellations (e.g., Pisces being larger than Cancer) and the different amounts of time celestial bodies spend within each due to their inclined paths. Why settle for simplicity when the universe’s true complexity can deepen your understanding? This provides a more nuanced and truthful understanding of astrological influences, offering deeper insights into personal energies and life patterns based on the true cosmic landscape.

For many years those that believed in astrology were seemingly at odds with those who trusted in the sciences. This is predominately because the observable locations of the Sun, Moon and planets relative to the constellations do not match with the star signs of astrology. While some kinds of astrology such as sidereal astrology are closer to the real positions, there are still significant differences. It had seemed inconceivable for someone to believe in both astrology and the sciences until now, however that all changes with the new paradigm of Astronomical Astrology.

The foundation of Astronomical Astrology is the actual observable locations of the Sun, Moon or planets relative to the eighteen constellations of the extended zodiac which fully aligns with the science of Astronomy. An extended Zodiac is necessary because the orbits of the Moon and the planets are not in the same plane as that of the Earth. Consequently several of these celestial objects can be observed either above or below the ecliptic (the path of the Sun’s motion traced across the celestial sphere throughout a year due to the Earth’s orbit).

The mechanics of the motion of the planets, together with our frame of reference, are explained in considerably more detail at Astronomical Astrology. The greatest cause for the big difference between the astrological constellations to what is observable, is due to a phenomenon labelled the “Precession of the Equinoxes”. This precession of the equinoxes moves slowly westwards across the sky over a cycle of 25,772 years, creating a drift in the observed position of the astronomical constellations. What this means is that each astrological star sign typically will include the astronomical constellation that was formerly to the east. There is a further complication by the fact that the constellations are not twelve equal 30-degree sectors of the ecliptic. Further adding to this complexity, each of the heavenly bodies transverses each constellation at a perceived angle and a different elevation. Once all of these variables are collated, the full picture of Astronomical Astrology emerges as the predicted location of any celestial body aligns precisely with the astronomically observable facts.

This new type of Astrology might be hard to believe for some people, as they have connected with being a particular star sign for most of their life. Importantly Astronomical Astrology does not disregard the aspects of what you have believed throughout your life. It has to be realised that thoughts are their own energies, which can form a layer of reality around you. So you may find that you exhibit aspects of the star sign you think you are, due to your thoughts. While at the same time, you will discover that you react subconsciously as a result of the energies which are the real astronomical influences. This is the nature of the reality of our lives, as we are affected not only by aspects of Astronomical Astrology, but just as importantly we are strongly influenced by our thoughts.

To form a more accurate picture of the energies of life it is necessary to look at the dimensions of the eighteen constellations that the Sun, Moon and planets traverse. The astronomical constellations which are observable in the sky are not divided into the twelve neat and equal segments as typically defined in astrology.

To define the constellation dimensions, Astronomical Astrology uses the constellation boundaries as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and which is observable in the night sky. The most noticeable difference to other forms of astrology, is that not all constellations are of the same dimension. As an example, the constellation Pisces occupies a much larger space of the sky than the constellation of Cancer. The cosmos add complexity as the inclined path through each constellation results in the Sun, Moon and planets each spending different amounts of time travelling through each astronomical constellation.

Considering these two aspects, each constellation fills varying arcs of the sky. This varies quite significantly from 6.5 days for Scorpio to almost 45 days for Virgo. Tying the constellation dimension complexity into the precession of the equinoxes, means that Astronomical Astrology aligns exactly with the observable universe and science.

This phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes is due to the long term cyclic wobbling in the orientation of Earth’s axis of rotation. This wobble of 1 degree for every 71.6 years was identified by Sir Isaac Newton and has since been better quantified as we have learnt more about the mechanics of the Solar System. We now know that the precession is caused by the gravitational effects of both the Sun and the Moon coupled with the fact that our planet is not a perfect sphere. Consider that the Earth is tilted and that the Sun’s gravitational pull is stronger on the portion that is tilted towards it, thus creating a torque effect on the planet. This torque coupled with the gravitational effects of the moon, which is tilted out of the plane by five degrees, causes the slow but very gradual wobble of the Earth.

The precession of the Earth’s axis has several noticeable effects. The first noticeable effect of this is that the positions of the north and south celestial poles appear to move in circles. The celestial poles take 25,772 years to create a full circle against the backdrop of seemingly fixed stars. Today, the star Polaris lies approximately at the north celestial pole, this will change over time as other stars become the north star. Second, the precession of the equinoxes moves slowly westwards across the sky, causing a drift in the observed position of the astronomical constellations. What this means is that each astrological star sign now contains the constellation that was formerly to the east. As an example, the tropical astrological star sign of Capricorn now covers a sector of the sky which is filled with the astronomical constellation of Sagittarius.

The location of the vernal equinox has shifted approximately 23 degrees westward over the past 2,000 years, will continue to progress westward at approximately 50.3 arc-seconds each year. When the astronomer Ptolemy mapped 48 constellations in the second century, the vernal equinox occurred in the constellation of Aries. Now due to the continued process of precession, the location of this equinox has shifted westward so that the vernal equinox now appears in the constellation of Pisces. This can be proven by simple observation of the night sky or the use of various apps on your smartphone which can map the stars.

The precession of the equinoxes is the prime reason for the difference between the true astronomical positions of the constellations and (western or tropical) astrology. Astronomical Astrology aligns with the science of astronomy and the real observations of the Sun, Moon and planets across the sky by factoring in the precession of the equinoxes.

The major difference between astrology and the observable astronomical constellations is due to the Precession of the Equinoxes. Astronomical Astrology takes into account the rotation, motion and orbits of the earth and planets to build a complete picture of the Galaxy at large.

You may ask, how does an equinox impact the position of the constellations? Equinox means “equal night”, being that time of year when all points on the Earth’s surface experience the same lengths of daylight and darkness. There are two equinoxes each year and the vernal equinox marks the point in time when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and is the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere.

When Greek astronomer Hipparchus compiled his star catalogue in the year 129BC, he found that the positions of the stars did not match up with the older Babylonian observations. He observed that most of the stars and constellations had shifted a constant amount. This indicated to Hipparchus that it was not the stars themselves that had moved but the frame of reference, Earth, which had changed. Hipparchus concluded that the equinoxes were drifting westward along the ecliptic relative to the stars that were believed to be motionless from the perspective of astronomers, and opposite to the motion of the Sun along the ecliptic. The precession of the equinoxes is an ongoing process that has caused a shift in the position of the zodiac as seen from Earth.

Some may find new forms of Astrology hard to believe, as they have associated with being a certain star sign for all of their life. However, most forms of astrology do not align with the science of astronomy and the observations of the sky due to two factors: the precession (or drift) of the equinoxes & the dimensions of constellations.

The cornerstone of Astronomical Astrology is the actual observable locations of the Sun, Moon or planets in relation to the eighteen constellations of the extended zodiac.

Astronomical Astrology does not dismiss the aspects of what someone has believed throughout their life, as it must be realised that thoughts are their own energies, which can form a layer of reality around an individual. In which case you may find that you exhibit aspects of the star sign you think you are, but at the time you will find that you react sub-consciously due to the energies which are the actual astronomical aspects.