Astrological symbols

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Historically, astrological and astronomical symbols have overlapped. Frequently used symbols include signs of the zodiac and classical planets. These originate from medieval Byzantine codices. Their current form is a product of the European Renaissance. Other symbols for astrological aspects are used in various astrological traditions.

Contents

History and origin

Symbols for the classical planets, zodiac signs, aspects, lots, and the lunar nodes appear in the medieval Byzantine codices in which many ancient horoscopes were preserved. [1] In the original papyri of these Greek horoscopes, there was a circle with the glyph representing shine ( Old symbol for sun.svg ) for the Sun; and a crescent for the Moon. [2]

Classical planets

The written symbols for Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn have been traced to forms found in late Classical Greek papyri. [3] The symbols for Jupiter and Saturn are monograms of the initial letters of the corresponding Greek names, and the symbol for Mercury is a stylized caduceus. [3] A.S.D. Maunder finds antecedents of the planetary symbols in earlier sources, used to represent the gods associated with the classical planets. Bianchini's planisphere , produced in the 2nd century, [4] shows Greek personifications of planetary gods charged with early versions of the planetary symbols: Mercury has a caduceus; Venus has, attached to her necklace, a cord connected to another necklace; Mars, a spear; Jupiter, a staff; Saturn, a scythe; the Sun, a circlet with rays radiating from it; and the Moon, a headdress with a crescent attached. [5] A diagram in Johannes Kamateros' 12th-century Compendium of Astrology shows the Sun represented by the circle with a ray, Jupiter by the letter zeta (the initial of Zeus, Jupiter's counterpart in Greek mythology), Mars by a shield crossed by a spear, and the remaining classical planets by symbols resembling the modern ones, without the cross-mark seen in modern versions of the symbols. [5]

The modern sun symbol, pictured as a circle with a dot (U+2609☉SUN), first appeared in the Renaissance. [2] (The conventional symbols for the signs of the zodiac also develop in the Renaissance period as simplifications of the classical pictorial representations of the signs.)[ citation needed ] The modern sun symbol resembles the Egyptian hieroglyph for "sun" – a circle that sometimes had a dot in the center, (U+131F3𓇳EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPH N005). Similar in appearance were several variants of the ancestral form of the modern Chinese logograph for "sun", which in the oracle bone script and bronze script were Ri -bronze.svg . It is not known if the Egyptian and Chinese logographs have any connection to the European astrological symbol.

Major planets discovered in the modern era

Symbols for Uranus and Neptune were created shortly after their discovery. For Uranus, two variant symbols are seen. One symbol, Uranus symbol (fixed width).svg , invented by J. G. Köhler and refined by Bode, was intended to represent the newly discovered metal platinum; since platinum, sometimes described as white gold [lower-alpha 1] was found by chemists mixed with iron, the symbol for platinum combines the alchemical symbols for iron, ♂, and gold, ☉. [6] [7] An inverted version of that same symbol, Uranus symbol (inverted).svg was in use in the early 20th century. [8] Another symbol, Uranus monogram (fixed width).svg , was suggested by Lalande in 1784. In a letter to Herschel, Lalande described it as "un globe surmonté par la première lettre de votre nom" ("a globe surmounted by the first letter of your name"). [9] After Neptune was discovered, the Bureau des Longitudes proposed the name Neptune and the familiar trident for the planet's symbol, though at bottom may be either a cross Neptune symbol (fixed width).svg or an orb Neptune orb symbol (fixed width).svg . [10]

Asteroids

The astrological symbols for the first four objects discovered at the beginning of the 19th century — Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta — were created shortly after their discoveries. They were initially listed as planets, and half a century later came to be called asteroids, though such "minor planets" continued to be considered planets for perhaps another century. Shortly after Giuseppe Piazzi's discovery of Ceres, a group of astronomers ratified the name, proposed by the discoverer, and chose the sickle as a symbol of the planet. [11] The symbol for Pallas, the spear of Pallas Athena, was invented by Baron Franz Xaver von Zach, and introduced in his Monatliche Correspondenz zur Beförderung der Erd- und Himmels-Kunde. [12] Karl Ludwig Harding, who discovered and named Juno, assigned to it the symbol of a scepter topped with a star. [13]

The modern astrological form of the symbol for Vesta, ⚶, was created by Eleanor Bach, [14] who is credited with pioneering the use of the big four asteroids with the publication of her Ephemerides of the Asteroids in the early 1970s. [15] The original form of the symbol for Vesta, Vesta symbol (original, fixed width).svg , was created by German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss. Olbers, having previously discovered and named one new planet (as the asteroids were then classified), gave Gauss the honor of naming his newest discovery. Gauss decided to name the planet for the goddess Vesta, and also specified that the symbol should be the altar of the goddess with the sacred fire burning on it. [16] [17] Bach's variant was a simplification of 19th-century elaborations of Gauss's altar symbol. [14]

Centaurs

The symbol for the centaur Chiron, ⚷, is both a key and a monogram of the letters O and K (for 'Object Kowal', a provisional name of the object, for discoverer Charles T. Kowal) was proposed by astrologer Al Morrison, who presented the symbol as "an inspiration shared amongst Al H. Morrison, Joelle K.D. Mahoney, and Marlene Bassoff." [18]

A widely used convention for other centaurs, proposed by Robert von Heeren in the 1990s, is to replace the K of the Chiron key glyph with the initial letter of the object: e.g. P or φ for Pholus and N for Nessus (U+2BDB⯛PHOLUS, U+2BDC⯜NESSUS).

Trans-Neptunian objects

Pluto, like Uranus, has multiple symbols in use. One symbol, ♇, is a monogram of the letters PL (which can be interpreted to stand for Pluto or for astronomer Percival Lowell), was announced with the name of the new planet by the discoverers on May 1, 1930. [19] Another symbol, which was popularized in Paul Clancy's astrological publications, is based on Pluto's bident:[ citation needed ] Pluto symbol (large orb, fixed width).svg . This symbol is described by Dane Rudhyar as "suggest[ing] the planetary character of the Pluto mind by the circle, floating above the open cup." Although, this meaning is readily debatable due to Blavatskian origins, rather than a properly traditional understanding, such as may be found in Hermeticism. [20]

Symbols for other large trans-Neptunian objects have mostly been proposed on the Internet; [21] some created by Denis Moskowitz have been used by NASA [22] and are used by the popular open-source astrological software Astrolog, as well as being used less consistently by commercial programs.

Miscellaneous orbital stations

The symbol for retrograde motion is ℞, a capital 'R' with a tail stroke. [23] [24] [25] An 'R' with a tail stroke was used to abbreviate many words beginning with the letter 'R'; in medical prescriptions, it abbreviated the word recipe [26] (from the Latin imperative of recipere "to take" [27] ), and in missals, an R with a tail stroke marked the responses. [26]

Meanings of the symbols

Nuremberg chronicles f 11r 2.png
A late-15th-century manuscript with the twelve zodiac symbols. Note the flat Cancer, upright Sagittarius and cursive Capricorn.
12 houses of heaven.jpg
A mid-18th-century manuscript with symbols for the signs and planets. Note the distinctive shapes of Virgo (6), Scorpio (8), Capricorn (10) and Aquarius (11).
Astrolog.png
A wheel chart produced by Astrolog , showing symbols for the signs of the zodiac (outer ring), classical planets, dwarf planets and asteroids (inner ring). In the inner ring, clockwise from Gemini, are the Moon, Ceres, ascending node, Sedna, Uranus, Eris, Chiron, Neptune, Pallas, Gonggong, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, Quaoar, Juno, descending node, Venus, Vesta, Haumea, Mercury, Mars, Makemake, Hygiea and Orcus.

Signs of the zodiac

NameMeaningImageText [28] Emoji [29] UnicodeSymbol represents
Aries Ram Aries symbol (fixed width).svg ♈︎♈️U+2648Face and horns of a ram
Taurus Bull Taurus symbol (fixed width).svg ♉︎♉️U+2649Face and horns of a bull
Gemini Twinned Gemini symbol (fixed width).svg ♊︎♊️U+264ATwins
Cancer Crab Cancer symbol (fixed width).svg ♋︎♋️U+264BTwo arms/pincers of a crab[ citation needed ]
Cancer symbol (straight, fixed width).svg
Leo Lion Leo symbol (fixed width).svg ♌︎♌️U+264CA lion's head and tail[ citation needed ]
Virgo Maiden Virgo symbol (fixed width).svg ♍︎♍️U+264DDerived from the Greek letters ΠΑΡ, an abbreviation of parthenos "virgin"[ citation needed ]
Libra Scales Libra symbol (fixed width).svg ♎︎♎️U+264EScales[ citation needed ]
The claws of Scorpio[ citation needed ]
Scorpio Scorpion Scorpius symbol (fixed width).svg ♏︎♏️U+264FScorpion with stinging tail
Sagittarius Archer Sagittarius symbol (fixed width).svg ♐︎♐️U+2650Bow and arrow of a centaur
Capricorn Goat-horned Capricornus symbol (fixed width).svg ♑︎♑️U+2651Head and forequarters of a goat with the hindquarters and tail of a fish [30]
Capricornus symbol (European, fixed width).svg
Aquarius Water-carrier Aquarius symbol (fixed width).svg ♒︎♒️U+2652Ripples of water
Pisces Fishes Pisces symbol (fixed width).svg ♓︎♓️U+2653Two fish[ citation needed ]

Planets

Name [31] ImageText Unicode Symbol represents
Sun Sun symbol (fixed width).svg ☉U+2609Circle with a dot as a solar symbol from Apollo's round shield with a boss
Moon Moon crescent symbol (fixed width).svg ☽U+263DA crescent moon
Moon decrescent symbol (fixed width).svg ☾U+263E
Mercury Mercury symbol (fixed width).svg ☿U+263F Mercury's caduceus; cross added in 16th century CE.[ citation needed ]
Venus Venus symbol (fixed width).svg ♀U+2640Perhaps a copper hand mirror with handle or necklace with pendant; cross added in 16th c. (see Venus symbol)
Mars Mars symbol (fixed width).svg ♂U+2642 Mars' shield and spear
Jupiter Jupiter symbol (fixed width).svg ♃U+2643Monogram Ζ for Zeus with a cross-bar indicating an abbreviation (perhaps later seen as a cross)[ citation needed ]
Saturn Saturn symbol (fixed width).svg ♄U+2644 κ ρ for Cronus with a cross-bar indicating an abbreviation; cross added in 16th c.[ citation needed ]
Uranus Uranus monogram (fixed width).svg ♅U+2645An orb with a monogram H for the discoverer's last name, Herschel
Uranus symbol (fixed width).svg ⛢U+26E2Derived from the alchemical symbols of the planetary metals gold (Sun) and iron (Mars) to create a symbol for platinum, then applied to the planet
Neptune Neptune symbol (fixed width).svg Neptune orb symbol (fixed width).svg ♆U+2646 Neptune's trident
Pluto Pluto symbol (fixed width).svg Pluto symbol (large orb, fixed width).svg ⯓U+2BD3Pluto's orb and a bident
Pluto monogram (fixed width).svg ♇U+2647PL monogram for Pluto and Percival Lowell
Pluto symbol (southern Europe).svg Crossed Aries symbol.svg ⯔U+2BD4Symbol used mainly in France, Spain, Italy and Germany. [32]
Charon symbol (fixed width).svg ⯕U+2BD5Symbol invented by German astrologer Hermann Lefeldt in 1946. Used by some followers of the Hamburg School of Astrology. [32] Also proposed for Pluto's moon Charon. [21]
Pluto symbol (northern Europe).svg Pluto symbol (northern Europe, variant).svg ⯖U+2BD6Pluto's orbit crossing that of Neptune. Symbol mostly used in German-speaking countries and Denmark. [32]

Asteroids and other celestial bodies

Since the 1970s, some astrologers have used asteroids and other celestial bodies in their horoscopes. The symbol for the first-recognised centaur, 2060 Chiron, was devised by Al H. Morrison soon after it had been discovered by Charles Kowal, and has become standard amongst astrologers. [33] In the late 1990s, German astrologer Robert von Heeren created symbols for other centaurs based on the Chiron model, though only those for 5145 Pholus and 7066 Nessus are included in Unicode, and only that for Pholus in Astrolog. [34] The following list is by no means exhaustive, but for bodies outside this list, there is often very little to no independent usage beyond the symbols' creators. [35]

CategoryNameImageText Unicode Symbol represents
Asteroids Ceres Ceres symbol (fixed width).svg ⚳U+26B3A scythe (handle down), emblematic of Ceres as goddess of the harvest
Pallas Pallas symbol (fixed width).svg ⚴U+26B4A spear, emblematic of Athena
Juno Juno symbol (fixed width).svg ⚵U+26B5A scepter, emblematic of Juno as queen of the gods, topped with a star
Vesta Vesta symbol (fixed width).svg ⚶U+26B6The fire-altar of Vesta's temple
Astraea [34] Astraea symbol (astrology).svg %, ⯙U+0025, U+2BD9The % sign (shift-5 on the keyboard for asteroid 5) [36]
Hygiea Hygiea symbol (fixed width).svg ⯚U+2BDAA caduceus (an apparent error for the rod of Asclepius, itself an error for the snake as a symbol of Hygieia) [34]
Centaurs Chiron Chiron symbol (fixed width).svg ⚷U+26B7Stylized key; simultaneously the letters OK for "Object Kowal", as the object was known when announced as a new planet. The top is half of a "perfect X", with the staff rising above so that they're radii of a circle centered where they meet. The width and height of the oval are the golden ratio. [37]
Pholus Pholus symbol.svg ⯛U+2BDBSymbols devised by German astrologer Robert von Heeren in the late 1990s, based on Chiron's [34] [37]
Pholus symbol (Greek).svg
Nessus Nessus symbol.svg ⯜U+2BDC
Chariklo Chariklo symbol.svg
Hylonome Hylonome symbol.svg
Cyllarus Cyllarus symbol.svg
Large trans-Neptunian planetoids, incl. dwarf planets Eris Eris symbol (fixed width).svg ⯰U+2BF0The Hand of Eris; also used non-astrologically by Discordians [38]
Eris arrow symbol (fixed width).svg ⯱U+2BF1Based on the symbols for Pluto, Mars, and Venus; proposed by Henry Seltzer and used in Time Passages[ clarification needed ] [38]
Haumea Haumea symbol (fixed width).svg 🝻U+1F77BConflation of Hawaiian petroglyphs for woman and birth, as Haumea was the goddess of both [35]
Makemake Makemake symbol (fixed width).svg 🝼U+1F77CEngraved face of the Rapa Nui god Makemake, also resembling an M [35]
Gonggong Gonggong symbol (fixed width).svg 🝽U+1F77DChinese character 共 gòng (the first character in Gonggong's name), combined with a snake's tail [35]
Sedna Sedna symbol (fixed width).svg ⯲U+2BF2Monogram of the Inuktitut syllabics for 'sa' and 'n', as Sedna's Inuit name is 'Sanna' (ᓴᓐᓇ) [35]
Quaoar Quaoar symbol (fixed width).svg 🝾U+1F77EA Q for Quaoar combined with a canoe, stylised to resemble the angular rock art of the Tongva [35]
Orcus Orcus symbol (fixed width).svg 🝿U+1F77FAn O-R monogram for Orcus, stylised to resemble a skull and an orca's grin [35]
Orcus anti-Pluto symbol (fixed width).svg Inverted Pluto, from Orcus being styled the 'anti-Pluto' [35]
Salacia Salacia symbol (fixed width).svg A stylized hippocamp [35]
Salacia symbol (fixed width, Greek).svg
Varda Varda symbol (fixed width).svg ❈U+2748A gleaming star, as Varda was creator of the stars [35]
Ixion

Ixion symbol (Latin, fixed width).svg

The solar wheel that Zeus bound Ixion to in Tartarus, with the spokes stylized as an I-X for 'Ixion' [35]
Ixion symbol (Moskowitz, fixed width).svg Based on the preceding, but with the Greek letters Ι Ξ for Ιξιων in place of Latin I and X. [35]
Varuna Varuna symbol (Moskowitz, fixed width).svg Devanagari व va and Varuna's snake-lasso. [35]
Gǃkunǁʼhomdima G!kun||'homdima symbol.svg An aardvark, representing the beautiful aardvark girl Gǃkunǁʼhomdima [35]
Chaos Chaos symbol (fixed width).svg Arrows pointing in all directions; the symbol of Chaos [35]
Rhadamanthus Rhadamanthus symbol.svg Unknown [35]
Fictitious planets Proserpina Astrological planet Proserpina.svg ⯘U+2BD8Object and symbol are unrelated to the asteroid 26 Proserpina. [34]
Globus cruciger (fixed width).svg ♁U+2641Symbol used for Proserpina and apparent synonym Kora by astrologers in Poland, and the astrology software Urania, who identify Proserpina with the dwarf planet Eris. [35]
Transpluto [34] Astrological planet Transpluto.svg ⯗U+2BD7Fictitious planet beyond Pluto (arrow pointing beyond Pluto's orbit)

The Hamburg School of Astrology, also called Uranian Astrology, is a sub-variety of western astrology. [39] It adds eight fictitious trans-Neptunian planets to the normal ones used by western astrologers: [39]

NameImageText Unicode
Cupido Astrological planet Cupido.svg ⯠U+2BE0
Hades Astrological planet Hades.svg ⯡U+2BE1
Zeus Astrological planet Zeus.svg ⯢U+2BE2
Kronos Astrological planet Kronos.svg ⯣U+2BE3
Apollon Astrological planet Apollon.svg ⯤U+2BE4
Admetos Astrological planet Admetos.svg ⯥U+2BE5
Vulcanus Astrological planet Vulcanus.svg ⯦U+2BE6
Poseidon Astrological planet Poseidon.svg ⯧U+2BE7

Aspects

In astrology, an aspect is an angle the planets make to each other in the horoscope, also to the ascendant, midheaven, descendant, lower midheaven, and other points of astrological interest. The following symbols are used to note aspect: [40]

NameImageTextUnicodeAngleRatioExplanation
Conjunction Conjunction-symbol.svg ☌U+260C0°-Two or more planets in the same house (zodiacal sign).
A circle with a line implying two objects are aligned (or, the starting point of an angle)
VigintileVVU+005618°20Also known as semidecile.
SDSDU+0053 U+0044
Semisextile Semisextile-symbol.svg ⚺U+26BA30°12One sign apart
The intersecting lines from the inner angles of the upper half of a hexagon (see Sextile). Also known as dodecile.
UndecileUUU+005532.73°11
DecileDDU+004436°10
Up tack.svg ⊥U+22A5
Novile NNU+004E40°9Also known as nonile.
Semi-square Semisquare symbol.svg ∠U+222045°8Half the angle of Square. Also known as semiquartile and octile. The symbol was originally an 'L' shape (half a square), now commonly an acute angle, though not actually drawn as a 45° angle.
SeptileSSU+005351.43°7
Sextile Sextile-symbol.svg ⚹U+26B960°6Two signs apart
The intersecting lines from the inner angles of a hexagon
Quintile QQU+005172°5
Pentagon symbol.svg ⬠U+2B20
BinovileN2N2U+004E U+00B280°9/2Also known as binonile.
Square Square-symbol.svg □U+25A190°4Three signs apart / Same modality
A regular quadrilateral that represents the right angle. Also known as quartile.
BiseptileS2S2U+0053 U+00B2102.86°7/2
TredecileD3D3U+0044 U+00B3108°10/3Also known as tridecile.
Minus-or-plus sign.svg ∓U+2213
Trine Trine-symbol.svg △U+25B3120°3Four signs apart / Same elemental triplicity
An equilateral triangle. Also known as trinovile.
Sesquiquadrate Sesquisquare-symbol.svg ⚼U+26BC135°8/3The glyph of the Semi-Square under the glyph of the Square, implying the sum of them both. Also known as the sesquisquare, square-and-a-half, and trioctile.
Biquintile Q2Q2U+0051 U+00B2144°5/2
bQbQU+0062 U+0051
Plus or minus symbol.svg ±U+00B1
Quincunx Quincunx symbol.svg ⚻U+26BB150°12/5Five signs apart
The intersecting lines from the inner angles of the lower half of a hexagon (see Sextile). Also known as the inconjunct.
TriseptileS3S3U+0053 U+00B3154.29°7/3Also known as tridecile.
QuadranovileN4N4U+004E U+2074160°9/4Also known as quadnovile and quadranonile.
Opposition Opposition-symbol.svg ☍U+260D180°2Six signs apart

The glyph of the Conjunction plus a circle on top of its line, implying two objects are opposed.

Occultation Occultation symbol.svg 🝵U+1F7750°Conjunction with eclipse. Solar eclipse when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction. Less commonly used for the Moon eclipsing any of the planets, as opposed to a mere conjunction, or for any of the planets and their moons eclipsing each other.
Lunar eclipse Lunar eclipse symbol.svg 🝶U+1F776180°Opposition with eclipse, or (rarely) any body in the shadow of the other. Lunar eclipse when the Sun and Moon are in opposition.
Russian aspects

In addition to the aspect symbols above, some Russian astrologers use additional or unique aspect symbols: [41] [40]

NameImageTextUnicodeAngle
Vigintile Russian astrological symbol vigintile.svg ⯳U+2BF318°
Novile Russian astrological symbol novile.svg ⯴U+2BF440°
Quintile Russian astrological symbol quintile.svg ⯵U+2BF572°
Binovile Russian astrological symbol binovile.svg ⯶U+2BF680°
Centile (Sentagon) Russian astrological symbol sentagon.svg ⯷U+2BF7100°
Tredecile Russian astrological symbol tredecile.svg ⯸U+2BF8108°

Miscellaneous symbols

CategoryNameImageTextUnicodeExplanation
Angle Ascendant AscAscThe ascendant (also known as the "ascensum coeli") is the rising intersection of the ecliptic with the celestial horizon at a particular moment in time; it is used in the construction of a horoscope/natal chart
Midheaven McMcThe midheaven (also known as the "medium coeli") is the point where the ecliptic crosses the local meridian; it is used in the construction of a horoscope/natal chart
Vertex Vx or Vertex symbol.svg Vx or 🜊U+1F70AThe vertex and anti-vertex are the points where the prime vertical intersects the ecliptic. A crucible symbol, 🜊, is used by Astrolog and the HamburgSymbols font
Apparent retrograde motion Retrograde motion ℞℞U+211ESymbol represents the apparent retrograde motion of a planet in an astrological chart
Lunar node Ascending Node Ascending node (fixed width).svg ☊U+260ANot all astrologers use the lunar nodes; however, their usage is very important in Vedic astrology. They are alternately known as the "Dragon's Head" ( Rahu , Caput Draconis, or Anabibazon) and the "Dragon's Tail" ( Ketu , Cauda Draconis, or Catabibazon). The two nodes together are most commonly referred to simply as the nodal axis, the lunar nodes, or the Moon's nodes.
Descending Node Descending node (fixed width).svg ☋U+260B
Lunar apogee Black Moon, or Lilith Astrological symbol for Black Moon.svg ⚸U+26B8The original Black Moon was a fictitious second, very dark moon of Earth. It is now often re-interpreted as the position of the mean lunar apogee as measured from the geocenter; variants of the Black Moon include replacing the mean orbit with a "true" osculating orbit or with an interpolated orbit; charting the empty focus of the Moon's orbit instead of the apogee; and measuring the desired point's barycentric or topocentric position instead of its geocentric position. [42]
True Black Moon Astrological symbol for True Black Moon.svg ⯞U+2BDEThe lunar apogee calculated from its current position (disregarding solar perturbation), as opposed to its mean position. [34]
symbols related to LilithWhite Moon, or Selena Astrological symbol for White Moon.svg ⯝U+2BDDRussian astrologer Pavel Globa invented this to serve as the symbolic opposite of the Black Moon in the 1980s. [34]
True White Moon, or Arta Astrological symbol for True White Moon.svg ⯟U+2BDFSimilar to White Moon, but calculated from the "true" Black Moon rather than the mean Black Moon. [34]
Solar apogee Astrological symbol for solar apogee.svg ----Assumes an Earth-centered universe; the heliocentric equivalent would be terrestrial aphelion. Used to derive the (true) White Moon from the (true) Black Moon: ⯟ = ☊ + 7⁄4(⯞ − Astrological symbol for solar apogee.svg + 180°)
Alchemical 'Three primes' Zodiacal modalities:
cardinal 		Sulphur symbol (fixed width).svg 🜍U+1F70DWestern astrological symbolism has common early origin with alchemical shorthand glyphs, and planetary divination has long been held in association with alchemy's symbols; the three primes of Paracelsus have been associated with the zodiac sign modalities, and tendencies of their nature in an elementary way to be construed as being mutable (Quick-Silver or Mercury), fixed (Salt) or be cardinal (Sulfur).
fixed Salt symbol (alchemical).svg 🜔U+1F714
mutable Mercury symbol (fixed width).svg ☿U+263F
Ophiuchus Serpent-holder Ophiuchus symbol (fixed width).svg ⛎︎U+26CE Ophiuchus has been proposed as a thirteenth sign of the zodiac by astrologer Walter Berg in 1995, who gave it a symbol which gained some popularity in Japan.
Earth Earth Earth symbol.svg 🜨︎U+1F728Four quadrants of the Earth
Lot Lot of fortune Part of Fortune symbol.svg 🝴U+1F774Glyph for planet Earth rotated 45 degrees. In some fonts the tensor product, U+2297 ⊗, can be used as a substitute for the symbol.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Today, white gold means a silvery alloy of gold mixed with another metal, usually nickel, silver, or both.

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Astronomical symbols are abstract pictorial symbols used to represent astronomical objects, theoretical constructs and observational events in European astronomy. The earliest forms of these symbols appear in Greek papyrus texts of late antiquity. The Byzantine codices in which many Greek papyrus texts were preserved continued and extended the inventory of astronomical symbols. New symbols have been invented to represent many planets and minor planets discovered in the 18th to the 21st centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5 Astraea</span> Large asteroid

Astraea is an asteroid in the asteroid belt. Its surface is highly reflective and its composition is probably a mixture of nickel–iron with silicates of magnesium and iron. It is an S-type asteroid in the Tholen classification system.

Provisional designation in astronomy is the naming convention applied to astronomical objects immediately following their discovery. The provisional designation is usually superseded by a permanent designation once a reliable orbit has been calculated. Approximately 47% of the more than 1,100,000 known minor planets remain provisionally designated, as hundreds of thousands have been discovered in the last two decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domicile (astrology)</span> Zodiac sign over which a planet rules

In astrology, a planet's domicile is the zodiacal sign over which it has rulership. This is a separate concept from the houses of the horoscope. A planetary ruler is given to each sign, over which the planet is said to have a more powerful influence when positioned therein. The ruling planet associated with a sign is also used as an implied focus of interpretation for the signs on house cusps in a chart. A planet is considered to be in domal dignity when it is positioned in the sign it rules. This is the strongest of the five essential dignities of a planet. Domicile is an archaic term in infrequent, specialist uses today; most astrologers use the simpler term "sign".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generational planet</span> Term in the field of astrology

In the field of astrology, generational planets are planets that affect an entire generation of people. The generational planets are the outer planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, and potentially Sedna and Quaoar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astrological transit</span> Movement of the planets through a sign

Astrological transits are one of the main means used in horoscopic astrology to forecast future trends and developments. As its name implies, astrological transits involve a method of interpreting the ongoing movement of the planets as they transit the horoscope. This is most often done for the birth or Natal Chart of a particular individual. Particular attention is paid to changes of sign, or house, and to the aspects or angles the transiting planets make with the natal chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10199 Chariklo</span> Small body of the outer Solar System

10199 Chariklo is the largest confirmed centaur. It orbits the Sun between Saturn and Uranus, grazing the orbit of Uranus. On 26 March 2014, astronomers announced the discovery of two rings around Chariklo by observing a stellar occultation, making it the first minor planet known to have rings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwarf planet</span> Small planetary-mass object

A dwarf planet is a small planetary-mass object that is in direct orbit around the Sun, massive enough to be gravitationally rounded, but insufficient to achieve orbital dominance like the eight classical planets of the Solar System. The prototypical dwarf planet is Pluto, which for decades was regarded as a planet before the "dwarf" concept was adopted in 2006.

A planet symbol or planetary symbol is a graphical symbol used in astrology and astronomy to represent a classical planet or one of the modern planets. The symbols were also used in alchemy to represent the metals associated with the planets, and in calendars for their associated days. Most of the symbols originated in Greco-Roman astronomy; their modern forms developed in the 16th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asteroids in astrology</span>

Asteroids are relatively new to astrology, having only been discovered in the 19th century. Their use has become significant to a few Western astrologers yet still only a minority of astrologers use the asteroids in chart interpretation. Their use in astrology began with Eleanor Bach's publication of the first asteroid ephemeris in 1973. Their use was popularized following Demetria George's publication of Asteroid Goddesses in 1986

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planets in astrology</span> Interpretations of the planets of the Solar System

In astrology, planets have a meaning different from the astronomical understanding of what a planet is. Before the age of telescopes, the night sky was thought to consist of two similar components: fixed stars, which remained motionless in relation to each other, and moving objects/"wandering stars", which moved relative to the fixed stars over the course of the year(s).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of the Solar System</span> Overview of and topical guide to the Solar System

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Solar System:

The Celestial police, officially the United Astronomical Society, was a cooperation of numerous European astronomers in the early 19th century. It is mainly known in relation to the search for objects expected between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It was formed in 1800 at the second European congress of astronomers. At the first such congress, in 1798, the French mathematician Jérôme Lalande had called for a coordinated search, in which each participating observatory would patrol a particular part of the sky. The group confirmed or discovered the four largest minor planets, which would lead to the identification of the asteroid belt. They also initiated the compilation of better star catalogues and the investigation of variable stars. They pioneered international collaboration and communication in astronomy.

References

  1. ↑ Neugebauer, Otto (1975). A history of ancient mathematical astronomy. pp. 788–789.
  2. 1 2 Neugebauer, Otto; Van Hoesen, H. B. (1987). Greek Horoscopes . American Philosophical Society. pp.  1, 159, 163. ISBN   9780871690487.
  3. 1 2 Jones, Alexander (1999). Astronomical papyri from Oxyrhynchus. American Philosophical Society. pp. 62–63. ISBN   9780871692337. It is now possible to trace the medieval symbols for at least four of the five planets to forms that occur in some of the latest papyrus horoscopes (P.Oxy. 4272, 4274, 4275 ...). That for Jupiter is an obvious monogram derived from the initial letter of the Greek name. Saturn's has a similar derivation ... but underwent simplification. The ideal form of Mars' symbol is uncertain, and perhaps not related to the later circle with an arrow through it. Mercury's is a stylized caduceus.
  4. ↑ "Bianchini's planisphere". Florence, Italy: Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza (Institute and Museum of the History of Science). Archived from the original on 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  5. 1 2 Maunder, A.S.D. (1934). "The origin of the symbols of the planets". The Observatory. 57: 238–247. Bibcode:1934Obs....57..238M.
  6. ↑ Bode, J.E. (1784). Von dem neu entdeckten Planeten [About the Newly Discovered Planet]. Beim Verfaszer. pp.  95–96. Bibcode:1784vdne.book.....B.
  7. ↑ Gould, B. A. (1850). Report on the history of the discovery of Neptune. Smithsonian Institution. p.  5.
  8. ↑ "Appendix: Signs and symbols". Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language (2nd, unabridged ed.). Springfield, MA: G. & C. Merriam Webster. 1950. Astronomical symbols: Uranus. ISBN   9110494065. ISBN   9789110494060.
  9. ↑ Herschel, Francisca (1917). "The meaning of the symbol "H+o" for the planet Uranus". The Observatory. 40: 306. Bibcode:1917Obs....40..306H.
  10. ↑ Gould, B.A. (1850). Report on the history of the discovery of Neptune. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. p.  22.
  11. ↑ Bode, J.E., ed. (1801). Berliner astronomisches Jahrbuch führ das Jahr 1804 [The Berlin Annual Astronomical Handbook for the year 1804] (in German). Vol. 1804. pp. 97–98.
  12. ↑ von Zach, Franz Xaver (1802). "[no title cited]". Monatliche Correspondenz zur Beförderung der Erd- und Himmels-Kunde [Monthly Correspondence on the Advancement of the Terrestrial and Celestial Sciences] (in German). 6: 95–96.
  13. ↑ von Zach, Franz Xaver (1804). "[no title cited]". Monatliche Correspondenz zur Beförderung der Erd- und Himmels-Kunde [Monthly Correspondence on the Advancement of the Terrestrial and Celestial Sciences] (in German). 10: 471.
  14. 1 2 "Asteroid symbols". suberic.net. Graphics. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  15. ↑ "Eleanor Bach". Solstice Point. Memorial for Astrologer. Archived from the original on 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  16. ↑ von Zach, Franz Xaver (1807). Monatliche Correspondenz zur Beförderung der Erd- und Himmels-Kunde (in German). Vol. 15. p. 507.
  17. ↑ Carlini, Francesco (1808). Effemeridi astronomiche di Milano per l'anno 1809 [Astronomical Ephemeridies of Milan for the year 1809].
  18. ↑ Morrison, Al H. (1977). "Chiron". CAO Times. 3: 57.
  19. ↑ Rudhyar, Dane (1966). "PART FIVE: Mercury and Pluto". The Planets and their Symbols. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
  20. 1 2 "Symbols for large trans-Neptunian objects". Suberic.net. 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
  21. ↑ JPL/NASA (April 22, 2015). "What is a Dwarf Planet?". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  22. ↑ Randall, Sidney (2006). The ABC of the Old Science of Astrology. Cosimo. p. 14. ISBN   978-1-59605-920-7. ...the ℞ with the stroke across the tail stands for Retrograde.
  23. ↑ Lilly, William (1659). Christian Astrology. pp. 35, 37. A chart with "℞" by a retrograde Jupiter appears on p. 35; on p. 37, describing the construction of the chart, Lilly says: "And because [Jupiter] is noted Retrograde I place the letter 'R', the better to informe my judgement."
  24. ↑ Booth, Janet (2005). "Mercury Retrograde". JanetsPlan-Its.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-14. Retrieved 2010-10-20. The symbol for retrograde looks like an "R" with an "X" going through it, the same as the symbol for a prescription.
  25. 1 2 E.B.G. (1852). Smith, Frances Gurney (ed.). "(Review) The Prescriber's Complete Handbook". The Medical Examiner, and Record of Medical Science. 8: 804.
  26. ↑ "Recipe definition". M-w.com. 2007-04-25. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  27. ↑ Text format can be forced by appending the character U+FE0E to the sign
  28. ↑ Emoji format can be forced by appending the character U+FE0F to the sign
  29. ↑ Behari, Bepin (2003). Myths & Symbols of Vedic Astrology. p. 155. Of the two emblems related to [Capricorn], one is a horizontal line terminating with a downward moving arc ending with a loop having an extended arc Capricornus symbol (European, fixed width).svg , and the other has a V-shaped beginning whose downward arc convexing to the right Capricornus symbol (fixed width).svg .
  30. ↑ Hand, Robert (1981). Horoscope symbols. Para Research. ISBN   0-914918-16-8.
  31. 1 2 3 Faulks, David (2016-08-12). "L2/16-067R: Astrological Plutos" (PDF).
  32. ↑ Faulks, David (May 9, 2006). "Proposal to add some Western Astrology Symbols to the UCS" (PDF). p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2017. In general, only the signs for Vesta have enough variance to be regarded as different designs. However, all of these Vesta symbols ... are differing designs for 'the hearth and flame of the temple of the Goddess Vesta' in Rome, and can thus be regarded as extreme variants of a single symbol.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Faulks, David (2016-05-28). "Additional Symbols for Astrology" (PDF). L2/16-080.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Miller, Kirk (26 October 2021). "Unicode request for dwarf-planet symbols" (PDF). Unicode Consortium.
  35. ↑ Bala, Gavin Jared; Miller, Kirk (18 September 2023). "Unicode request for historical asteroid symbols" (PDF). Unicode Consortium. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  36. 1 2 Miller, Kirk; Stein, Zane (26 August 2021). "Comment on U+26B7 CHIRON" (PDF). L2/21-225.
  37. 1 2 Faulks, David (June 12, 2016). "Eris and Sedna Symbols" (PDF). Unicode Consortium. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 8, 2017.
  38. 1 2 Faulks, David (2016-03-06). "L2/16-064: Extra Symbols from Uranian Astrology" (PDF).
  39. 1 2 Suignard, Michel (2017-01-24). "L2/17-020R2: Feedback on Extra Aspect Symbols for Astrology" (PDF).
  40. ↑ Faulks, David (2016-06-09). "L2/16-174R: Extra Aspect Symbols for Astrology" (PDF).
  41. ↑ Revilla, Juan Antonio. "The Black Moon Apogee and its Variants". Archived from the original on 2021-01-30. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
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