Chart angles — Astrology glossary

The angles are the four most sensitive points in a chart: the ascendant in the east, the descendant in the west, the midheaven at the top, and the imum coeli at the bottom. They are formed by the intersection of two great circles, the horizon and the meridian, with the zodiac at the moment and place of birth. Because they depend on the exact time and location, they rotate through all twelve signs in a single day, making them the features most sensitive to an accurate birth time. They matter because planets sitting close to an angle are strongly emphasised in interpretation, and the angles themselves describe identity, relationships, public life, and roots. For example, a planet within a few degrees of the ascendant is read as colouring how a person comes across to others.