Astronomy for Astrologers
represents the path the Sun's center takes each year on
the celestial sphere, as seen from the Earth, or the
Earth's path around the Sun, as seen from the Sun.
North Ecliptic Pole – Is the point on the ecliptic sphere
that is 90 degrees from the plane of the ecliptic to the
North—or 'above' it.
NEP -- North Ecliptic Pole
South Ecliptic Pole – Is the point on the ecliptic sphere
that is 90 degrees from the plane of the ecliptic to the
South, or 'below' it.
SEP - South Ecliptic Pole
Obliquity of the Ecliptic – Is the 23 1/2° angle (23°27')
that represents the inclination of the ecliptic to the
celestial equator. This also marks the maximum angular
distance that the Sun can reach, north or south of the
celestial equator, at the time of the solstices.
Celestial Latitude (Ecliptic Latitude) - The angular
distance of any object measured, north or south of the
plane of the ecliptic to the poles, from 0° to 90°.
Celestial Longitude (Ecliptic Longitude) - The angular
distance of any object as measured from zero Aries to a
plane through an object.
Zodiac - From a Greek word meaning the 'circle of
animals'. It is a belt about 18° wide (9° above and 9°
below the plane of the ecliptic) within which the planets
travel. This circle is divided into 12 equal 30° sections,
containing the signs of the zodiac: Aries, Taurus,
Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius,
Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. At one point (over
2000 years ago), the signs of the zodiac corresponded
with the constellations of the same name; however, due
to precession, the signs have drifted westward