The Astrologer's Planetary Table
An ephemeris is a table of daily planetary positions — longitude, latitude, and speed for each planet across a span of days, months, or years. Before astrology software, every chart was cast by hand using an ephemeris. Today astrologers still use ephemerides to study upcoming transits, plan predictive work, and understand how planets will move through their chart over months and years.
Types of Ephemeris Data
| Column | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Longitude | Sign and degree on the ecliptic |
| Declination | North/south of celestial equator |
| Latitude | North/south of ecliptic |
| Daily motion | Degrees moved in 24 hours |
| Retrograde (R/D) | Station dates |
Using an Ephemeris Today
Even with astrology software, knowing how to read an ephemeris builds genuine astronomical literacy. To find when Jupiter enters your natal Sun's degree, open the ephemeris for the relevant year, find the Jupiter column, and scan for that degree. Online ephemerides are free at astro.com. For day-to-day transit tracking, a printed ephemeris on your desk is still one of the most efficient tools an astrologer can use.