Fixed Stars as above so below by M. Imran

Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Persians paid attention on the all possible visible heavenly area and divide them into constellations. The real division of constellation is neither equal, nor symmetrical, since they are imaginarily formed segments with respect to cluster of different Fixed Stars lying in them. Ancients did so for the sake of navigation and certain rituals and sacrifices. From time to time discoveries of new Fixed Stars and constellations have been piled up. Now the number of constellations has reached to 88. Contrary to the ancients Greeks and medieval Persians and modern West; Indians have strictly been followed 27 or 28 nakshatra (constellations on the belt of Ecliptic) for all kinds of prognostications.

There also brings forth a question of number of Fixed Stars. Nobody exactly knows the accurate figure; even modern astronomers yield an estimated average number. Generally, a human eye can gaze around 6000 Fixed Stars. Whereas, Ptolemy listed positions of 1022 Fixed Stars. Modern scientific instruments and mathematical techniques made this figure in millions. But, only a small number of millions of Fixed Stars are used for astrological delineations and predictions. Most of the astrologers and researchers agree on more or less 100 Fixed Stars that play effective role in natal and mundane horoscope. And among them, about 20 to 50 Fixed Stars are considered really vital. Deborah Houlding, runner of SkyScript made a useful list of 20 Brightest Stars. However, you should be mindful about longitudes of Fixed Stars. Deborah has given tropical (projected) longitudes for year 2000. Either update the referred above longitude or better is to follow sidereal longitude, as given in the next section.

How to use Fixed Stars

Today’s astrology is no longer an observational art. For last few decades, it has turned into a theoretical guess work based on the readymade computer generated charts and directions. A majority of learners do not bother to understand essential of Ganitha or Siddhanta (astronomical elements) which is indeed pitiful. But the proper usage of Fixed Stars asks for applied understanding of Ecliptic, Horizon, Right Ascension, Longitudes, Latitude and Sidereal Time. 

At present, three major techniques of Fixed Stars application are in vogue. The first methodology is dependent on transforming the location of Fixed Star into celestial longitudes, and it is generally followed (because it involves not labour of calculation). But some astrologers reject the practice of following longitudes of Fixed Stars, and advice to consider the rising, culminating and setting of Fixed Stars at the time and place of birth. Keep in mind that most of the Fixed Stars do not reside on ecliptic belt (like Sun, Moon, Mars etc.). For the sake of predictive ease, astrologers project the position of Fixed Star on ecliptic through the line of Right Ascension and deduce projected ecliptical degrees (PED).

An important point, about the longitudes of Fixed Stars given in online websites and books, is that they are tropical by default, and keep changing on account of precision of equinoxes. This implies that tropical position of Fixed Stars given in the Star Catalogue of Ptolemy (2nd century) is different from Al Beruni (10th century), and Al Beruni’s lists of Fixed Star is at variant from William Lilly’s calculation (17th century). On the other hand, most of the online sources list tropical degrees for either 1900 AD or 2000 AD. Only certain astrology software yields true outcome according to one’s date of birth. For readers and followers of sidereal zodiac, table of Fixed Stars with projected sidereal degrees are given below.

Above table contains six columns. First column indicates serial number, second column lists 80 well known Fixed Stars names. Linguistically, most of the names are Greek, Arabic, Latin or their derivates. The third column signifies the constellation in which a particular Fixed Star resides in heaven. Jyotish students and practitioners should not confuse with the names and numbers of given constellations. They are not generally used 27 or 28 constellations on ring of Ecliptic, or in simple words, upon the zodiacal signs. As discussed earlier, these constellations are actually irregular segments of the entire spherical heaven. The forth column has header ‘Mag.’ i.e. magnitude of a Fixed Star. Magnitude simply indicates the level of apparent brightness. They are actually class or level of brightness, and may vary from time to time. 1 magnitude means 1st class brighter star, 2 connotes 2nd class brighter star and so on. But some Fixed Stars are too bright like Sun. For them negative values are given, viz.; with Sirius and Canopus. The fifth column indicates the sidereal longitudes. But one should not forget that these longitudes are actually projected longitudes along the Right Ascensions, since most of the Fixed Stars do not domicile on Ecliptic. The final and sixth column of above table reveals the nature of Fixed Stars. It was Ptolemy who popularized the nature of Fixed Star in term of characteristics of a planet or admixture of two planets. Keep in mind, there is minor difference on attribution of planets with Fixed Stars among different authorities. Moreover, there are also multiple names of a same star.

Fixed Stars, is a wide and equally deep area of study therefore it is not possible to summarize all aspects in a single article. But the question is what to do with this table.

A simple but crude technique of using Fixed Stars is to look at the close conjunction of a planet or cusp of angles with longitudes of Fixed Stars.

Although, few astrologers follow Lilly’s instructions, and consider opposition, trine and square of Fixed Stars with natal planetary positions and cusps of angles. But in scribe’s opinion, conjunction ought to give preference over all other aspects. Usually a very close orb (deeptamsa) of 1 degree for Fixed Stars’ conjunction is followed. Sometimes, 2 or at most 3 degree orb is taken, provided a certain Bright Fixed Star be conjoined to an important planet at cusp of Asc., MC., Dsc. or IC. If one does not take care of this point, then a horoscope will turn into a mess of dozens, perhaps, hundreds of Fixed Stars.

There is another method of implying Fixed Stars on natal or mundane horoscope through their real presence at 4 key points of horizon of birth place. If a Fixed Star rise, culminate, set or anti-culminate simultaneously with a planet then they are said to be “mutually related” or in “Paran” of each other.

In other words, it is a location-specific technique. But, it is difficult to manually calculate said connection (Paran) without aid of star map, Fixed Stars calendar (rise and set date and time), and birth place latitude and Sidereal Time. Because there are some Fixed Stars that (appears) rising or setting at different geographical latitudes on different months, even there are a few Fixed Stars that cannot rise or set on certain place of birth.

Some Fixed Stars exist either too north or too south of equator, for instance, Polaris (also known as North Star, Polar Star or Dhruva) has declination 89°18’ N, therefore it is always visible on sky and cannot appear rising or setting. In a similar fashion, other highly northerly or southerly located Fixed Stars should avoid, if they found too far from latitude of your birth place.

For knowing whether a Fixed Star can appear rising or setting, you need two figures. First declination of Fixed Star, and secondly, latitude of your birth place. Some of higher northerly and southerly placed important Fixed Stars’ declinations are as follows. Fixed Star ‘Schedar’ has declination 56°36’N, Alamak has 42°23’N, Capella has 46°0’N, Menkalinan has 44°57’N, Canopus has 52°42’S, Kochab has 74°6’N, Dubhe has 61°41’N, Merak has 56°19’N, Phecda has 53°38’N, Alioth has 55°54’N, Mizar has 54°52’N, Alkaid has 49°15’N, Gacrux has 57°11’S, Mimosa has 59°45’S, Acrux has 63°10’S, Agena has 60°26’S, Rigel Kentaurus has 60°53’S, Eltanin has 51°29’N and Achernar has declination 57°11’S.

Since celestial declination is the projection of terrestrial latitude, and both are compatible coordinates therefore you can guess whether a Fixed Star can rise or set at latitude of your place of birth or not. Mumbai has latitude of around 19°north or to be exact at 18°58’N, Sydney is located below the equator at latitude of 33°53’S, while London is located quite high at the globe at 51°39’N. Now a simple technique how to know whether a certain Fixed Star can ‘rise’, as well as ‘set’ at your birth place.

Step-1: Note the declination of Fixed Star and subtract it from 90.

For example Algol is approximately at declination of 41°N.

On subtracting declination of Algol from 90, we have: 90° – 41° = 49°

Step-2: Now consider subtracted result as N (north) and S (south), and compare it from latitude of birth city.

Following above example of Algol, we have: 49°N and 49°S.

It means notoriously evil Fixed Star Algol can never set at geographical latitude (northerly) greater than 49°N. Hence, for a native born in London with latitude: 51°39’N, Fixed Star Algol can never set, and thus should discard for considering rise or set.  At the same time, Algol can also never rise at any place having latitude (southerly) greater than 49°S. For instance in some of the southernmost towns of Chile and Argentina, located at latitude 50°S, Fixed Star Algol having declination of 41°N can never rise. Thus Algol contains no meaning in the horoscopes of people born there.

Take another example of Canopus having declination 52°42’S. On subtracting it from 90, we have: 90° – 52°42’ = 37°18’. Or 37°18’N and 37°18’S. It implies that Fixed Star Canopus can never set at latitude greater than 37°18’S. Hence at Wellington, New Zealand that is located in southern hemisphere at 41°17’S, Fixed Star Canopus can never set i.e. always visible. Similarly, at latitude greater than 37°18’ N, Canopus, can also never rise. For instance in Washington D.C. that has latitude 38°54’N, Canopus can never rise, and should avoid for the purpose of rising and setting.

There is yet another method to find what Fixed Star was culminating (i.e. placed at the top of visible sky) at the time of Birth through Sidereal Time. For this purpose, compare the Right Ascension of Fixed Star closest to the Local Sidereal Time.

New versions of Janus and Solar Fire Gold software can accurately compute Fixed Stars’ rise, culminate, set and anti-culminate with all planets. There is another special software design for the purpose of Paran, called “Starlight” which is based on the research work of Bernadette Brady. It is specially designed for Fixed Stars and Sky maps.

Whatever be the technique, Fixed Stars with planets and cusps of four angles indicate course of destiny and life track, and not merely psyche, mental makeup, personality etc. This is an important point to note. In ancient times, Fixed Stars are attributed to the deterministic elements (or say constant parameter) of the equation of life. Fixed Stars should also explain in the perspective of the figure and symbol of constellation where they domicile. In short, try to decode the legend, figure, and symbol of Fixed Stars.

Take an example with a very brief effect of Fixed Stars in natal chart. Dr. B.V.Raman, a highly respected name in the world of Indian astrology, was born on 8 Aug 1912 in Bangalore (latitude 12^o59’N) with Aquarius lagna. 

His Moon (23^oTa38’) is in conjunction with star Rigel (22^oTa58’), whereas his MC (cusp of 10th house) is in conjunction of Antrares (15^oSc54’). Moreover, Dr. Raman’s lagna is also quite close to the Fomalhaut and parallel to another Fixed Star Spica. This is not a common occurrence. Rigel (in the constellation of Orion) is attributed to preacher of knowledge, besides bestowing courage and bringing good luck. Fomalhaut – one of the Royal Stars of Persia – is related to acquiring fame through science and mystery. But Antares, lying in the heart of Scorpio, is a highly sensitive and powerful star. It yields great success through a passion but it simultaneously produces hurdles on account of obsession or extreme likes and dislikes.

From the perspective of mutual rise, culminate or set of Fixed Stars with radical planets, Antares and Midheaven (MC) both were culminating at the sky of Bangalore when B.V. Raman was born.