Data Entry > General

1. Where can I fill in the data for a chart?
   
   If you haven't entered any birth data on astro.com before, it is best to start by clicking on Free Horoscopes at the top of our homepage. On this selection page, please follow the instructions in the yellow box on the right. The link Please Click Here takes you to the data entry form.
   
   If you have registered a user profile before, you can log in to your registered profile on the My Astro page (top menu bar), and click the link Add new Astro data.
   
   In the data entry form, fill out all the input fields and click the "continue" button to save your data.
   
   
2. How can I enter a new set of birth data to my list?
   
   There are two easy ways:
   
   a) If you are on any horoscope output page in the "Free Horoscopes" section, e.g. the Personal Daily Horoscope, use the link "Add a New Person" at the top of this page, right next to the GO button.
   
   b) Go to "My Astro" and use the link "Add new Astro data".
   
   
3. How accurate must I be?
   
   The more accurate you can be, the better. There are a number of techniques which require precision up to the minute. Even a computerised interpretation can change entirely from one minute to the next, for example if the Ascendant changes signs.
   But these occasions are relatively rare, and usually it is sufficient to have precision of about 15 minutes for the birth time and around 30 kilometres for the place of birth.
   
   

Data Entry > Gender / Event

1. Why do I need to enter my gender?
   Does it make a difference in interpretation?
   
   It makes a difference in wording; this is most noticable if the natal data are used for a partner horoscope, or for any service in a language other than English, or for ordering reports.
   Because the natal data entered are stored on the site and available later for any such usage to you, they must be entered completely, including gender, even if your first usage - e.g. for drawing a chart - would not require gender.
   
   
2. Can I get an interpretation for an event chart?
   
   We do not offer interpretations for events. All the texts written by our authors refer to human beings. Reading a chart of an event is a much more limited matter than reading a birth chart of a person.
   When you call up a chart for a particular event, you have to know about the kind of event (e.g. start of a particular business, purchase of a property etc). This narrows the focus of the interpretation.
   You can of course 'fake' the event chart into a person, by assigning a gender, and then get the child's reading for that chart (or an adults, if the event happened several years ago). Then you can try to translate the child's reading to your particular event. At least, it will give you some ideas about the cosmic patterns presiding over your particular event date.
   
   
3. How can I do a chart of the moment?
   
   There are two ways of generating a chart of the moment.
   
   a) Go to the data entry page. Here, you can leave the field for your first name empty and write "now" in the field for your last name. After selecting the correct place, you can press the "continue" button. The correct date and time will be entered automatically. Press "continue" again, and choose the option "chart drawing" on the Free Horoscopes page.
   You won't be able to get an interpretation of the chart of the moment, because we do not offer interpretations for events. And on most interpretations for humans, we have put an age limit. This is our policy in order to avoid abuse of the interpretations offered.
   
   b) Go to the Atlas Query page and enter the name of the town for your chart of the moment. Then click on the town link. This will lead you to the data entry page which is filled in automatically. Click on "Continue" to go to the Horoscope Selection page.
   
   
4. Can I do a chart for my pet?
   
   Yes, you can. Often enough the birth time is unknown, though, or various puppies are not properly identified at the time they were born, even if the birth is observed. We do not offer special interpretations for pets, but you can try the horoscopes for people, and transfer some of the information to your pet.
   

Data Entry > Birth date

1. How do I enter the date?
   
   Please, enter day, month, and year of birth. When entering a year, you can usually omit the two first digits of the year number. E.g., a year value "79" will be interpreted as "1979".
   NOTE: The numbers 01 to 12 will be interpreted as "2002" to "2012". This means that for example "1908" has to be entered with all four digits.
   
   
2. I was born in a leap year - is this important?
   
   Leap years have no influence on the calculation of a horoscope. A day in a leap year is a day like any other, the birth chart simply shows the heavens around us at a certain moment. For the calculation of a horoscope, the sidereal time is used, not the time we use to count the hours, days, weeks and years.
   
   
3. I was born on a day when the Sun changes signs. How do I know what sign I am?
   
   Please find the answer to your question in FAQ -> Understanding Astrology -> General
   
   
4. Do you take different calendars into account?
   
   For special date entries, please click the little button next to the birthday field. The link Special date entry will provide all the information you need about Julian or Gregorian Calendars, and B.C. / A.D.
   It is not possible to handle calendars automatically, the same way as time zones or daylight saving time. The reason is: many historical birth dates recorded in books or encyclopaedias have been converted by the authors from Julian to "modern" Gregorian calendar style. Unfortunately, this has not been done consistently, some authors have kept the original calendar. With respective dates, you must know which calendar they use. If they are Julian, please add the letters "jul" to the year on data entry.
   
   
5. Years before 100 A.D.
   
   When entering a year, you can usually omit the two first digits of the year number. E.g., a year value "79" will be interpreted as "1979". If the year 79 A.D. is required, you will have to enter "079". For the year 5 A.D. please enter "005".
    
   The program usually assumes Gregorian calendar dates. If a Julian calendar date is required, please, enter "jul" after the year number, e.g. "1066 jul". For most historical data before the year 1582 you will want to enter "jul".
    
   We have decided not to take care of the calendar switch by an automatic feature. Many history books have converted historical dates to the Gregorian system, while other sources have kept the dates in the original Julian system. There is no way for our computer to know what your source of the birth data did in regard to this calendar conversion.
    
   Years B.C. have to be entered as negative numbers. Attention, the astronomical year counting is to be used. The historical year 3 B.C. is -2 in the astronomical counting style. The difference arises from the fact that the historical counting style has no year zero, while the astronomical style allows for the year zero.
    
   

Data Entry > Birth time

1. How important is the birth time and how exact does it have to be?
   
   We need the birth time to be able to calculate your horoscope correctly. The skies above us move by so quickly, that in order to get the positions of the Ascendant, Sun, Moon and planets right, we need the most precise birth time you can give us. At best, the time is correct to the minute. On average, the ascendant moves around 1 degree every four minutes. So, the less precise the time, the less precise the horoscope will be. Even 15 minutes can make a difference in the interpretation.
   
   
2. What time do I use?
   
   Fill in your time of birth in "wrist watch time", i.e. the normal time shown on clocks and watches at the time and place of birth. Astrodienst automatically does all the necessary corrections of time zones and daylight saving time.
   
   
3. Do you take daylight saving time and time zones into account?
   
   Yes, we do. Astrodienst uses one of the most comprehensive databases for daylight saving times and time zones through the ages and around the world. In extremely rare cases the correct time may be uncertain. In these cases you will get a warning message when entering the birth data.
   
   
4. How can I find out my birth time?
   
   In nearly all countries of the world the time of birth is officially registered at the registry office where birth records are maintained. England (GB) is one of the few European countries which doesn't follow this rule.
   Please contact the birth registry office in your birth town, and request a copy of the registry information, including the birth time. You must mention the birth time specifically, because many birth certificates are issued without the time, even when it is contained in the records.
   
   
5. What difference do induced birth or a Caesarian section make to the horoscope?
   
   Astrology is pragmatic, it works with 'what is'. Your real birth time is what counts, not a hypothetical one which 'might have been if not...'.
   
   
6. Do you offer a chart rectification service?
   
   No, we don't know of any really reliable methods for rectification, and therefore do not offer such a service.
   For more information we recommend that you read the article on chart rectification by Richard Vetter in our "Understanding Astrology" section.
   
   

Data Entry > Birth place

1. Which place do I have to enter - my birth place or my place of residence?
   
   Always use the birth place to calculate a birth horoscope. If additional information is required, there will be a note saying so. Remember: a birth chart is based on the moment and place of your birth!
   
   
2. Moving house - does this change my horoscope?
   
   Moving house doesn't change your horoscope, since your birth chart is based on the date, time and place of your birth.
   Some astrologers take a change of residence into account. They interpret the birth chart, but use the new location as an additional source of information. They can tell you what effect being in a particular place could have on you. The 'relocation chart' in the "Extended Chart Selection" can be used as a basis for this interpretation. Our Astromaps are based on a similar idea.
   Usually, it only becomes worthwhile to use these techniques when you have moved further than fifty kilometres from your birthplace. Suddenly, certain things might begin to make sense, like why one has a lot of accidents in one place, or why one suddenly feels the urge to study in another. But through it all, your birth chart doesn't change.
   
   
3. How exact do the coordinates have to be?
   
   One arc minute corresponds roughly to one kilometre. Most towns are considerably larger than one kilometre in diameter, and therefore a difference of a few minutes in longitude or latitude is negligible. Generally, the town you choose should not be further than 30 kilometres away from your birth place.
   
   
4. How can I change my birth place?
   
   Please find the answer here.
   
   

Birth place > Database

1. How can I find my birth town in your database?
   
   Choose the country of your birth and then the town. It is best to just type the first three or four letters of your birth town and let the computer search. Then click on the drop-down menu for "birthplace" and mark the correct place in the list.
   
   
2. My birth place is not listed - what can I do?
   
   The spelling might be unclear. Try to type as little as possible in order to get a relatively long list of towns to choose from. If there are various ways of spelling the name of a town, try the different alternatives.
   As a general rule: type less - find more.
   If it is not listed, please send an e-mail to webmaster@astro.ch, and tell us the name of the town, the state, the country, and - what is most important: the exact latitude and longitude. It will be entered manually. Try again a few days later.
   
   
3. My birth place has been ruled by more than one different countries. Where do I look for it?
   
   Try the different countries or leave the "country" setting at "The whole world". You may find more than one hits of the same town, with the same coordinates but under different countries. You can select any of these. For the calculation, only the correct degrees of longitude and latitude are necessary.
   
   

Data Entry > Saving data

1. How can I save my data entries?
   
   If you don't have a personal user profile or / and haven't enabled the option for Java Script on your browser, you can save your data entries by bookmarking them.
   Fill in the data entry form and move on to the next page showing free horoscope choices. This page can be bookmarked.
   If you want to register your user profile, you can set up your own database and save up to 100 horoscope data. Click on My Astro in the top right-hand corner of our homepage, and then on the link Create a registered user profile.
   
   

Data Entry > Editing data

1. How can I edit the data of a particular person or event?
   
   Click on the link "Edit data for ..." beside the drop-down menu at the top of each free horoscope page, and change the data in the entry form according to your wishes.
   Alternatively, go to My Astro and follow the link Edit behind the set of data you would like to change. Enter the new data and click on the "continue" button to save the changes.
   
   
2. How can I change my place of birth?
   
   Click on My Astro in the main navigation at the top of the page. In your list of birth data, you will find the link Edit behind each set of data. Click on the Edit-link behind the set of data you would like to change. This takes you to the data entry form.
   To change your birth place, please click on the link other town beside the entry field for your birth town. You may now enter your new birth town and click on the "continue" button. Choose the correct town in the list of the drop down menu and click "continue" once more. Your changed data are now saved.
   
   
3. How can I delete data from my list?
   
   This question is answered in the My Astro section of FAQ.