# How does astrology work?

#### The Astronomy of Astrology: A 101 from your friends at Co–Star

1

##### What is astrology?

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Everything in the solar system is constantly moving. Astrology describes our lived experience in the context of this motion.

2

##### Natal Chart

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The natal chart (a.k.a. birth chart) is a map of the universe at the exact place and time that someone was born.

3

##### Zodiac Sun Signs

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The part of astrology that you're probably most familiar with is the Sun Sign.

4

##### The rising sign, or ascendant

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The rising sign is the zodiac sign that was on the eastern horizon when and where you were born.

5

##### Houses

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The houses indicate where something plays out – the context

6

##### House Systems

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There are many different ways of calculating houses. Porphyry is our favorite way of doing it.

7

##### Aspects

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Aspects are special angles (like 0°, 180°, etc) between any two planets.

8

##### Transits & Orbs

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Transits happen when there’s an aspect between where a planet is right now and where a planet was at the time of your birth. An orb is the buffer zone around an angle to define what counts as an aspect.