The time a major planet – Uranus, Neptune or Pluto – crosses the celestial equator and moves from south to north declination provides the time-data for its cycle chart.

The celestial equator is the projection of the Earth’s equator in space.

So there’s a planet, millions of miles out in space – Pluto’s distance from the Earth varies between 4.2 and 7.5 billion kilometers – and a global astrologer requires the time it crosses from south to north declination.

Calculating the precise time for the slower moving planets is intricate and involved.

Declination is measured in minutes and seconds and when Pluto moved from south to north declination on February 26, 1988 it was taking 41 minutes and 26 seconds of time to move 1 second of declination.

On March 7, 1944 when Neptune moved from south to north declination it was taking 37 minutes and 14 seconds to move 1 second of declination; and on January 28, 2012 when Uranus moved from south to north declination it was taking 25 minutes and 16 seconds to move 1 second of declination.

The calculations are made for the center of mass – which is not observable – of each planet, but for practical purposes this is the same as the geometric center of the visible, fully illuminated disc.

Astrology for Aquarius uses birth data obtained using MICA version 2.2.2 (2013), but the times for the Uranus, Neptune and Pluto cycles should be rated uncertain.

The data is improving all the time but the time-data for Uranus, Neptune and Pluto while close will have a slight (unknown) margin of error.

The start of a new cycle

The start of a global cycle is a major astrological event.

As a planet moves from south to north declination there’s a change in its polarity that marks itself in the astral substance that envelops the world.

This begins when it is within 1º of crossing the celestial equator, and continues to exert some influence after it crosses and is within 1º after crossing.

The condition indicated by a planet’s change in polarity, due to variations in resistance levels, may develop sometime before, or somewhat after, the exact moment of change in declination.

But the influence is more pronounced while the planet is close to the exact line between south and north declination.

During this change over period affairs and matters a planet rules and influences come into considerable prominence.

The events that occur at the start of new global cycle can be viewed as a sign of things to come.

In a specified chart the house position of the planet that is changing polarity indicates the starting point from which emanates other important events that are inclined to transpire during the life of the cycle chart.

Astrology for Aquarius – sharing our knowledge