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Because the calendar is defined by the movement of the Earth around the Sun, and its orbit is very nearly circular, the sign in which the Sun falls on any day of the year is fairly predictable, though it will vary a little due to the effect of the extra day in leap years. These dates are given in the article that deals with each sign individually. To determine the sign in which the moon and other planets fall on any given day, it is necessary to consult an ephemeris or use an astrological computer program which will have a built-in ephemeris; these computer programs make it quick and easy to calculate the natal chart (also called horoscope) so that the astrologer can spend more time interpreting the chart rather than actually calculating it.
In traditional Western astrology, each sign is ruled by one and only one of the planetA planet (from the Greek , planetes or "wanderers") is a body of considerable mass that orbits a star and that produces very little or no energy through nuclear fusion. Prior to the 1990s only nine were known (all of them in our own solar system); as of 3s (note that in astrologyastrological chart (or horoscope) Y2K Chart This particular chart is calculated for January 1st, 2000 at 12:01:00 A. Eastern Standard Time in New York City, New York, USA. Longitude: 074W00'23" Latitude: 40N42'51") Astrology (from Greek: , astron "star" +, the Sun and Moon are considered planetA planet (from the Greek , planetes or "wanderers") is a body of considerable mass that orbits a star and that produces very little or no energy through nuclear fusion. Prior to the 1990s only nine were known (all of them in our own solar system); as of 3s, which literally means wanderers, i.e. wanderers among the stars). The traditional rulerships are as follows: AriesAries is one of the constellations of the zodiac, the ram. It lies between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east. Notable features Aries' stars are rather faint except for Hamal (α Arietis) and Sharatan (β). Other important stars are Mesart ( MarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system, named after the Roman god of war (the counterpart of the Greek Ares), on account of its blood red color as viewed in the night sky. Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, both small and odd), TaurusTaurus Abbreviation Tau Genitive Tauri Meaning in English the Bull Right ascension 4 h Declination 15° Visible to latitude Between 90° and −65° Best visible January Area Total Ranked 17th797 sq. Number of stars with apparent magnitude 3 Brightest st ( VenusVenus is the second planet from the Sun, named after the Roman goddess Venus. It is a terrestrial planet, very similar in size and bulk composition to Earth; it is sometimes called Earth's "sister planet" as a result of this similarity. Although all plane), GeminiFor information on the US space program named Gemini see Project Gemini. Gemini (the twins) is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It is part of the winter sky, lying between Taurus to the west and the dim Cancer to the east, with Auriga and the near ( Mercury), Cancer ( Moon), Leo ( Sun), Virgo ( Mercury), Libra ( Venus), Scorpio ( Mars), Sagittarius ( Jupiter), Capricorn ( Saturn), Aquarius ( Saturn), Pisces ( Jupiter).
Many modern, psychologically-oriented astrologers believe that Uranus is the ruler or co-ruler of Aquarius instead of Saturn, Neptune is the ruler or co-ruler of Pisces instead of Jupiter, and that Pluto is the ruler or co-ruler of Scorpio instead of Mars (with other modern astrologers claiming that Pluto rules Aries and not Scorpio). Traditional astrology adheres to the rulerships system listed in the paragraph above, and the debate continues between those who consider the newly discovered planets as rulers or co-rulers of certain signs (modern astrologers) and those that do not (traditional astrologers).
Some astrologers do not even use the astrological signs at all (mostly Cosmobiologists and Uranian Astrologers/ Hamburg School); therefore they do not take into account planetary rulerships and the essential dignities when interpreting an astrological chart.
A planet is strengthened (dignified) if it falls within the sign that it rules. If a planet is in the sign opposite that which it rules, it is said to be weakened (detriment).