Related Words

Zodiac: The position of the sun during the course of the year as it appears to move though successive constellations. Also, the band where the ecliptic runs centrally through the celestial sphere an . . . View Full Definition

Zodiacal Aspects: Aspects based upon planets' zodiacal longitude as distinguished from parallels and contaparallels, which depend upon declination.

Tropical Zodiac: The circle of signs that follows the apparent path of the Sun (ecliptic). Also called the movable zodiac because it shifts slightly each year relative to the constellations of the sidereal z . . . View Full Definition

Longitude, Zodiacal: The position of a given point along the ecliptic expressed in terms of the zodiac.

Sidereal Zodiac: Based on the division of the circle of twelve constellations: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces; the basis for sidereal astrology.

Prenatal Epoch: The astrological moment of conception. According to Ptolemy, the natal Ascendant or Descendant coincides with the Moon's zodiacal position at the prenatal epoch, ten lunar months prior to bi . . . View Full Definition

Retrograde Motion: The apparent backward motion of a planet when it appears, as observed from Earth, to reverse its natural direction of travel and move backward in the zodiac.

Rising Sign: Synonymous with Ascendant. See Ascendant.

Precession Of The Equinoxes: The gradual westward shift (about 50' each year) of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic due to the ecliptic due to the rotational movement of the poles of Earth's axis. This phenomena . . . View Full Definition

Right Ascension: Measurement along the celestial equator eastward from 0° Aries that describes planetary positions in terms of degrees, minutes and seconds, not zodiacal signs. Sidereal time expressed in unit of arc.