From the mailbag: Conjunctions

posted 27 November 2007

K wrote:

Hi Molly,

I have my chart but do not understand at all what “conjunct” looks like. I mean visually, what does it look like? How do I know visually if planets are conjunct?

Thank you so much!

Hi K,

That’s a hard question to answer, because visually there are many different ways of representing a planet’s location in a chart.

Sometimes you’ll have a lot of planets in the same house. The glyphs used to represent them are very large, so one will sometimes bump the other over, and it’s hard to tell visually what’s going on. Sometimes two glyphs will appear to be close together, but in reality the planets are not conjunct.

So how do you know? You have to pay attention to the numbers. Don’t let this freak you out— it is very simple math. Most charts give you a number next to the symbol for the planet. This number tells you how far into the sign each planet is.

Each sign has 30 degrees, numbered 00 through 29. The number of degrees is often followed by the number of minutes, which aren’t really important unless you want to be very very precise.

If two planets are within the allowed orb (number of degrees between the planets), then they are conjunct. The allowed orb is debatable. I use 15 degrees for the Sun and Moon, 10 for planets. That works best for me. Other astrologers use wider or narrower orbs. The tighter the orb, the stronger the conjunction.

For my example, I’ll post my chart from astro.com. This is the best, most accurate chart calculation site on the web. It has lots of tools to help you learn to read your chart (check out Astro Click Portrait). And it’s free, so there’s absolutely no reason not to use it.

(Click the thumbnail to see the full size chart.)

I have the Sun at 5 Aries and Chiron at 12 Aries. That’s a 7 degree orb, in other words, only 7 degrees distance between the two— conjunction.

I have Venus at 20 Taurus and Mars at 29 Taurus. 9 degree difference— conjunction.

Here’s a tricky one— I have Mars at 29 Taurus and Saturn at 2 Gemini. What comes right after 29 Taurus? 00 Gemini of course. then 01, 02 Gemini… That’s a 3 degree orb— it crosses signs, but it’s still a conjunction.

Any questions? Just leave a comment.

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Comments:

Happy Jupiter return!

— asanamama 1 December 2007 #
Thanks asanamama! My last Jupiter return year was no fun at all. I hope this one is better. :)

— Molly 1 December 2007 #
Hi Molly,

I have Mars and Jupiter in Virgo conjunct in the 1st house. But I also have Leo rising? *scratching my mane

-mspaintedeyes

— Marbella 5 March 2008 #