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Astrology/Planetary positions - observed or actual?

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Expert: Zane B Stein - 4/22/2005


Question
The astronomical data that you use, is it based on a planet's observed or actual position?

For example, given that Neptune is 8-9 hours away at the speed of light, even the best radiotelescope data will still observe the planet behind it's actual position in space.

This question came up in discussion recently, trying to correlate the recent Moon-Neptune opposition (listed at ~4:30am by Astrology Weekly) to personal events.

Astrologically speaking, does a planet's influence travel at the speed of light, or is it felt instantaneously?

Does the astronomical source data you use include or not include a speed-of-light offset?


Answer
Hi, Van,

All astrological positions used are apparent, meaning that they are corrected for light time.  For example, it takes 8-1/3 minutes for the light from the Sun to reach the Earth, and in that time the Sun moves about 20.5" (seconds of arc). So the Sun's apparent position is 20.5" less than its geometric one.  

Also, the planetary positions are transformed to the ecliptic of date, which means that precession and nutation (the wobble of the Earth on its axis) are also applied.

I hope this was not confusing.

Best wishes,

Zane

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Zane B Stein

Expertise

I WILL BE HAPPY TO answer questions about astrology in general, the meanings of planets, signs, houses, aspects, asteroids, Chiron, etc. I use Western, Tropical Astrology. Please do not ask me questions about Vedic Astrology as I am not an expert on this.

I WILL NOT ANSWER PERSONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR INDIVIDUAL CHART, such as "Will I get rich?" or "Will I get married?", or "Are we compatible?" I do have a private astrological practice, and if you need to ask those type of questions, contact me privately and we`ll discuss a possible astrologer/client relationship. Also, I cannot answer questions about Vedic Astrology, or Chinese Astrology.

Also, astrology is NOT "What is my lucky stone?" or "What is my lucky color?" or "What are my lucky numbers?" Any astrologer who gives you a lucky object, or number, based on your chart, is not a real astrologer, but someone who is giving in to superstition. In order to find out how to enhance your luck, you need to have an astrologer look at your whole chart, and tell you what areas you need to focus upon, how to accent your positives, and work to resolve any problems that exist.

Experience

I've been involved with astrology since 1969, taught classes on several occasions, written a number of articles and one book, and lectured around the USA, in Canada, Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland.

Organizations belong to
AFAN
NCGR


Publications
Welcome To Planet Earth
The Mountain Astrologer
Dell Horoscope
Considerations
others

Please make sure your question is on astrology and not astronomy. I am not an astronomer.

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