Solar chart

The Sun driving his chariot with a wheel bearing the image of the zodiacal Leo over which he has rule. Reproduced by permission of Fortean Picture Library.

Solar chart (solar astrology)

Solar astrology is a system often used when an exact birth time cannot be determined. Rather than begin the natal chart’s house cusps at the ascendant (which cannot be calculated when the birth time is unavailable), a solar chart uses the location of the Sun on the day of birth as the position to begin the first house and then calculates succeeding houses in equal arcs of 30°. For example, if someone was born during a day when the Sun was at, say, 12° in the sign Capricorn, the first solar house would begin at 12° Capricorn, the second at 12° Aquarius, the third at 12° Pisces, and so forth through the remaining signs of the zodiac. This solar chart is interpreted exactly the same way as a standard natal chart.