Would you like to know your planetary positions? You don’t need to order a report to determine the basic positions in your chart. The following Birth Chart Calculator lists such things as your Sun sign, Moon sign, Ascendant, and more.The Below calculator uses the popular Placidus system of houses and the Tropical Zodiac.
Understand the exact difference between the Tropical (season-based) and Sidereal (star-based) zodiacs, convert your position with a quick approximate calculator, and use the table below for a fast reference.
The ranges below show typical date spans for Sun signs in each system. Because the Sun changes sign at slightly different UTC times each year, treat edges as approximate. Sidereal uses an ~24° offset (Lahiri ayanamsa ≈ 24°).
| Sign | Tropical (Approx. Dates) | Sidereal (Approx. Dates) | Offset Logic (Simplified) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Mar 21 – Apr 19 | Apr 14 – May 14 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Taurus | Apr 20 – May 20 | May 15 – Jun 14 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Gemini | May 21 – Jun 20 | Jun 15 – Jul 16 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Cancer | Jun 21 – Jul 22 | Jul 17 – Aug 16 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Leo | Jul 23 – Aug 22 | Aug 17 – Sep 16 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Virgo | Aug 23 – Sep 22 | Sep 17 – Oct 17 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Libra | Sep 23 – Oct 22 | Oct 18 – Nov 16 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Scorpio | Oct 23 – Nov 21 | Nov 17 – Dec 15 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Sagittarius | Nov 22 – Dec 21 | Dec 16 – Jan 14 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Capricorn | Dec 22 – Jan 19 | Jan 15 – Feb 12 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Aquarius | Jan 20 – Feb 18 | Feb 13 – Mar 14 | Tropical − ~24° |
| Pisces | Feb 19 – Mar 20 | Mar 15 – Apr 13 | Tropical − ~24° |
What it does: Converts a known Tropical ecliptic position (sign + degree) to an approximate Sidereal position by subtracting a fixed ayanamsa of 24° (close to Lahiri today). This is great for a quick check, but not a replacement for full ephemeris calculations.
How to get degrees? In detailed Western charts, your Sun/Moon/planet will show something like “Sun 12°34′ Taurus”. Enter sign=Taurus and degrees=12.567.
Result: —
Assumes fixed ayanamsa = 24°. Real values vary slightly by date, time, and chosen ayanamsa (e.g., Lahiri, Krishnamurti, Fagan/Bradley).
The Earth’s axis slowly wobbles (precession). Over millennia, the seasonal point of 0° Aries (March equinox) drifts against the fixed stars. The Tropical zodiac keeps 0° Aries tied to the equinox, while the Sidereal zodiac keeps 0° Aries tied to a fixed stellar reference. The difference between them is the ayanamsa, currently about 24°.
Many astrologers cross-reference both systems for a fuller picture.