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Placidus House Cusps Calculation - Worked

Example

PLACIDUS HOUSE CUSPS CALCULATION -

Worked Example
If YOU are seeking to calculate your own birthchart using the Placidus House Cusps
and have found very little information of value elsewhere on the internet, here is
where you will get your desired result.

There are sites with long and short formulae stated, and even explained – but none
very well explained or with fully worked examples.

Here I provide two examples – northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere – as

those dwelling in the antipodes can seem to be treated as second-class citizens.

Explanations and example workings follow the formulae.

It will soon be apparent to you that this method of calculating house cusps is
appropriate only to birth times of a precision of at least to the second (defined times
such as a nation’s independence coming into effect at midnight are obviously much
more precise than a second) – as it’s just too cumbersome and tedious for normal
use. But if you want to see house cusps to the tenth of a second you won’t get
satisfaction from any astrology software currently available.

All workings have been done in a spreadsheet but reproduced – for the most part – in
the following text for unambiguous illustration and therefore ease of comparison
with your own figures. As this is a practical exercise in calculation, the delicate
arguments about ephemeris precision will be set aside.

In each instance you are, in effect, calculating the Right Ascension (plane of the
equator) of the house cusp and then converting it to zodiacal longitude (plane of the
ecliptic). And that’s why you need to be confident of your obliquity figure.
A somewhat time-consuming internet search yielded the concise formulae – as
specified by Robert Hand in one of his textbooks and Neil Michelson in one of his
older ephemerides – as follows (with the starting point being the Local Sidereal Time
of the birth time):

1. Convert Local Sidereal Time (LST) to Right Ascension of the MC (RAMC)

2. The MC = arctan (tan RAMC/cos e)

3. The Asc = arccot {-[(tan L x sin e) + (sin RAMC x cos e)]/cos RAMC}

3A. To find the declination of the MC and Asc:

Declination = arcsin [sin(zodiacal longitude) x sin e]

4. 11th house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+30 degrees

RA2 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

RA3 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

Etc until delta RA tends to zero

5. Convert final RA to longitude: 11th cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

6. 12th house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+60 degrees

RA2 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

RA3 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

Etc until delta RA tends to zero

7. Convert final RA to longitude: 12th cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

8. 2nd house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+120 degrees

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

Etc until delta RA tends to zero

9. Convert final RA to longitude: 2nd cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

10. 3rd house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+150 degrees

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

Etc until delta RA tends to zero

11. Convert final RA to longitude: 3rd cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

12. Alternate cusps are simply the opposite signs

NOTES

Trigonometry

In a right-angled triangle the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse is the sine
(sin) of the angle, the adjacent side to the hypotenuse is the cosine (cos), and the
opposite to the adjacent is the tangent (tan).

In other words, tan = sin/cos.

arcsin (value) = the angle whose sine is that value;

arcos (value) = the angle whose cosine is that value;

arctan (value) = the angle whose tangent is that value;

arccot (value) = the angle whose cotangent (1/tan) is that value

Scientific calculators or spreadsheets have these basic functions.

Obviously we are carrying more decimal places than we need in the final result.

Placidus

In constructing a chart of the planets’ positions in the sky at a given time and place
what we are doing is attempting to represent a 3-dimensional scene (spherical
trigonometry) on a 2-dimensional surface and that’s why it’s so difficult to do. There
are numerous house systems in existence; the fundamental question is how do you
divide the portion of the sky between the horizon and the zenith (point overhead)?
The Placidus method (used in Hermetic Astrology) uses a trisection of sidereal time
between the Asc (horizon) and MC (Midheaven – zenith) projected onto the plane of
the ecliptic.
Who was Mr Placidus? Placidus de Titus (1603-1668) was a monk born in Perugia
and thus heir to the Italian Renaissance’s mathematical flowering. He was professor
of mathematics at the University of Pavia and (along with many other Renaissance
intellectuals) was interested in astrology and alchemy. Placidus himself
acknowledged that his system of house definition wasn’t original but was the same as
that used by Ptolemy (Alexandrian astrologer, 100-170) – hence its bona fides as a
component of Hermetic Astrology.

Formulae Factors

MC (Midheaven, from the Latin) = cusp of 10th house

Asc (Ascendant) = cusp of 1st house

L = geographical latitude of the location (southern hemisphere has a minus value)

e = obliquity of the ecliptic (true)

Symbol conventions: x = multiply, / = divide; the basic hierarchy of operations:

brackets, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction

A circle = 360 degrees = 24 hours (1 rotation of the Earth); hence the conversion of
time to angular measure

Special Considerations

Steps 2 and 3: pay close attention to the MC rules (hemisphere) for RAMC quadrant.
The Asc is trickier, as a function of both polarity and degree of latitude.

Steps 4, 6, 8 and 10. Typically ten iterations are used but you can make this
judgement call yourself based on the desired level of precision.

Trigonometry: for angles greater than 90 degrees it may be necessary to subtract 180
degrees and/or to change signs of resultant figures – this requires careful
consideration. A spreadsheet handles trig functions of angles over 90 degrees but will
return minus (-) values for angles over 90 or 180 degrees; watch the figures closely at
0 or 180d. Do a test run and check your results against a known chart.

Latitude: GPS devices will give a result to better than 1 second of latitude-longitude;
for some locations you will find internet data to a tenth of a second.

Obliquity of the Ecliptic: this is the angle between (true equator of date and mean
ecliptic of date) the Earth’s equator and the plane of its motion around the sun; it
varies slightly with time. Its value to the second is listed in most ephemerides (true
obliquity) but can be calculated with multi-term formulae locatable by internet
search (mean obliquity). [Mean obliquity = true obliquity – nutation correction.
(Nutation is the 18-year cycle of ‘wobble’ in the orientation of the polar axis in
space.)] In this worked example I use the MICA (US Naval Observatory ephemeris)
software to obtain true obliquity and apparent sidereal time (intersection of true
equator of date and ecliptic of date).

Sidereal time: in the course of a ‘year’ the Earth rotates 365 (…) times measured
against the sun but 366 (…) times measured against the stars – sidereal time. Before
you take the first step in house cusp calculation you must convert the birth time to
sidereal time. I have just entered geographical coordinates and standard time – both
to the tenth of a second (0.1") – in the MICA software (version 2.2.2) to obtain the
LST. But the same applies for any ephemeris: convert clock time to standard time (if
daylight saving), convert zone time to local mean time (LMT) – by comparing the
longitude of the location with the longitude of the time zone – then convert LMT to
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time, which is the same as Universal Time, UT, for the sake
of this discussion), then make a ‘Delta T’ correction – Ephemeris time = UT + Delta
T – then interrogate the ephemeris to obtain the sidereal time. [Delta T was 63.83
seconds at 1/1/2000 and is estimated to increase by 0.5 seconds per year. It is the
difference between clock time and ‘Ephemeris Time’ or ‘Terrestrial Time’ – a
measure based on a completely uniform rotational rate of the Earth (whereas the
actual rate of rotation is slowing – ever so slightly)].

For more details and updated values of Delta T refer to the IERS website.

Example Chart: - (Northern Hemisphere)

To serve a double purpose – illustrate a full working and explore the limits of
calculation precision – I am using the data of a ‘defined’ event (rather than an
observed event) for absolute accuracy. That is, whereas a human being is ‘born’ at
the time when the first breath (usually a cry) is observed, some nations
[approximately 50 countries] have been ‘born’ at a defined time, usually midnight.

Germany: something significant happened with the reunification of West and East
Germany in 1990. (Setting aside the somewhat intractable question of whether the
union really made a new nation or was just an ‘annexure’ of the East by the West and
a continuation of its destiny, and also the vexed question of whether the location of
the ceremony applies or the location of the existing government headquarters in
Bonn, or even the new centre of government in Berlin, we can use the exceptionally
good data to illustrate the calculations.)

3rd of October, 1990; midnight (beginning of the day), zone 1h East of Greenwich
(note that daylight saving ended 30/9 that year); Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate –
52N30’58.6" (L) and 13E22’39.8"

MICA for: Obliquity of the Ecliptic [true] (e), Local Sidereal Time (LST)

L = 52.51627778 (52N30’58.6" converted to decimal degrees)

e = 23 26’ 31.5633" = 23. 44210092 (decimal degrees)

LST = 0h 39m 06.4190s = 0.65178306 (decimal hours)

1. Convert LST to RAMC (time in hours to angular measure in degrees)

0h 39m 06.4190s = 0.65178306 x 15 (15 degrees per hour, 360 deg : 24 h)

RAMC = 9.77674583 degrees

[Or, as 1 hour = 15 degrees, 1 minute = 15 minutes, 1 second = 15 seconds:

0 x 15 (degrees) + 39 x 15 (minutes) + 6.4190 x 15 (seconds)

= 0 degrees + 585 minutes + 96.285 seconds

= 9 degrees + 45 minutes + 1 minute + 36.285 seconds

= 9 d 46m 36.285 (= 9.77674583 decimal) ]

2. Calculate the MC = arctan (tan RAMC/cos e)

Tan 9.77674583 = 0.17231205

Cos 23.44210092 = 0.91746255

0.17231205/0.91746255 = 0.18781372

Arctan 0.18781372 = 10.63701840 = 10d 38m 13.266"

[Rule: if RAMC in range 0 to 90d, use the MC figure; if RAMC 90 to 270 add 180 to
the MC; if RAMC 270 to 360 add 180 and reverse the sign (eg Virgo to Pisces)]

As the zodiac commences at 0 degrees Aries: MC = 10Aries 38’ 13.266"

3. Calculate the Asc = arccot {-[(tan L x sin e) + (sin RAMC x cos e)]/cos RAMC}

Tan 52.51627778 = 1.30399227

Sin 23.44210092 = 0.39782215

product = 0.51875701

Sin 9.77674583 = 0.16980955

Cos 23.44210092 = 0.91746255

product = 0.15579390
sum of 0.51875701 and 0.15579390 = 0.67455091

Cos 9.77674583 = 0.98547690

-0.67455091/0.98547690 = -0.68449185

Arccot -0.68449185 = -55.60867768

[Rule: if Asc 0 to 90 degrees (Aries to Gemini quadrant), accept it ; if Asc -90 to 0

(Cancer to Virgo), add 180 degrees; if Asc 0 to 90 (Libra to Sagittarius), add 180d ;

if Asc -90 to 0 (Capricorn to Pisces), add 180d and reverse the sign]

-55.60867768+180 (Asc -90 to 0) = 124.39132232 = 124d 23m 28.760s

As the zodiac commences at 0 degrees Aries, Aries+Taurus+Gemini+Cancer=120,

Asc = 4Leo 23’ 28.760"

3A. Calculate the declination of MC & Asc =arcsin [sin(zodiacal longitude) x sin e]

Sin 10.63701840 (MC) = 0.18458638

Sin 23.44210092 = 0.39782215 (calculated at step 3)

product = 0.07343255

Arcsin 0.07343255 = 4.21116568 = 4d 12m 40.196s (plus value, so North)

{rough check: if it’s between Aries and Virgo it’s North declination; sine of

an angle over 180d is a minus (-) value and hence a South declination}

MC declination = 4N 12’ 40.196"

Sin 124.39132232 (Asc) = 0.82519906

Sin 23.44210092 = 0.39782215 (as above)

product = 0.32828246

Arcsin 0.32828246 = 19.16456102 = 19d 09m 52.420s (plus value, North)

Asc declination = 19N 09’ 52.420"

4. Calculate the 11th house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+30 degrees = 9.77674583+30 = 39.77674583

RA2 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

RA3 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

Sin 39.77674583 = 0.63979783

minus sign = -0.63979783

Tan 23.44210092 = 0.43361132

Tan 52.51627778 = 1.30399227 (calculated at step 3)

product = -0.36175821

Arcos -0.36175821 = 111.20821285

divide by 3 = 37.06940428

RA2 = RAMC+37.06940428 = 9.77674583+37.06940428= 46.84615011

Sin 46.84615011 = 0.72951977

minus sign = -0.72951977

Tan 23.4410092 = 0.43361132 (as in 1st iteration)

Tan 52.51627778 = 1.30399227 (as in 1st iteration)

product = -0.41248931

Arcos -0.41248931 = 114.3613056

divide by 3 = 38.12043519

RA3 = RAMC + 38.12043519 = 47.89718102

and so on

RA12 = RAMC + 38.29178196 = 48.06852779

5. Convert final RA to longitude: 11th cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

Tan 48.06852779 = 1.11328737

Cos 23.4410092 = 0.91746255 (calculated at step 3)

quotient = 1.21344175

Arctan 1.21344175 = 50.50799042 = 50d 30m 28.766s

As the zodiac commences at 0 degrees Aries, Aries=30,

11th house cusp = 20Taurus 30’ 28.766"

6. Calculate the 12th house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+60 degrees = 9.77674583+60 = 69.77674583

RA2 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

RA3 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

Sin 69.77674583 = 0.93835280

minus sign = -0.93835280

Tan 23.4410092 = 0.43361132 (calculated at step 4)

Tan 52.51627778 = 1.30399227 (calculated at step 3)

product = -0.53056890

Arcos -0.53056890 = 122.04390078

divide by 1.5 = 81.36260052

RA2 = RAMC + 81.36260052 = 9.77674583+81.36260052 = 91.13934635

Sin 91.13934635 = 0.99980229

minus sign = -0.99980229

Tan 23.4410092 = 0.43361132 (as in 1st iteration)

Tan 52.51627778 = 1.30399227 (as in 1st iteration)

product = -0.56531402

Arcos -0.56531402 = 124.42410043

divide by 1.5 = 82.94940029

RA3 = RAMC + 82.94940029 = 92.72614612

and so on

RA8 = RAMC + 82.92546796 = 92.70221379

180-degree adjustment to get an angle under 90 degrees:

92.70221379-180 = -87.29778621

7. Convert final RA to longitude: 12th cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

Tan -87.29778621 = -21.18755086

Cos 23.4410092 = 0.91746255 (calculated at step 3)

quotient = -23.09364102

Arctan -23.09364102 = -87.52052919

180-degree adjustment to get a positive value:

-87.52052919+180 = 92.47947081 = 92d 28m 46.095s

As the zodiac commences at 0 degrees Aries, Aries+Taurus+Gemini=90,

12th house cusp = 2Cancer 28’ 46.095"

8. Calculate the 2nd house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+120 degrees = 9.77674583+120 = 129.77674583

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

Sin 129.77674583 = 0.76854326

{angle over 90 so there will be an adjustment at the end}

Tan 23.4410092 = 0.43361132 (calculated at step 4)

Tan 52.51627778 = 1.30399227 (calculated at step 3)

product = 0.43455419

Arcos 0.43455419 = 64.24307005

divide by 1.5 = 42.82871336

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – 42.82871336 = 9.77674583+180-42.82871336

= 146.94803247

Sin 146.94803247 = 0.54539949

Tan 23.4410092 = 0.43361132 (as in 1st iteration)

Tan 52.51627778 = 1.30399227 (as in 1st iteration)

product = 0.30838295

Arcos 0.30838295 = 72.03819355

divide by 1.5 = 48.02546237

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – 48.02546237 = 141.75128346

and so on (but this cusp required more iterations)

RA18 = RAMC + 180 – 46.74687186 = 143.02987397

180-degree adjustment to get an angle under 90 degrees:

143.02987397-180 = -36.97012603 (or just enter original figure – same)

9. Convert final RA to longitude: 2nd cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

Tan -36.97012603 = -0.75273690

Cos 23.4410092 = 0.91746255 (calculated at step 2)

quotient = -0.82045517

Arctan -0.82045517 = -39.36734321

180-degree adjustment to get a positive value:

-39.36734321+180 = 140.63265679 = 140d 37m 57.564s

As the zodiac commences at 0 Aries, Aries+Taurus+Gemini+Cancer=120,

2nd house cusp = 20Leo 37’ 57.564"

10. Calculate the 3rd house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+150 degrees = 9.77674583+150 = 159.77674583

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

Sin 159.77674583 = 0.34567907

{angle over 90 so there will be an adjustment at the end}

Tan 23.4410092 = 0.43361132 (calculated at step 4)

Tan 52.51627778 = 1.30399227 (calculated at step 3)

product = 0.19545587

Arcos 0.19545587 = 78.72864464

divide by 3 = 26.24288155

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – 26.24288155 = 9.77674583+180-26.24288155

= 163.53386428

Sin 163.53386428 = 0.28344859

Tan 23.4410092 = 0.43361132 (as in 1st iteration)

Tan 52.51627778 = 1.30399227 (as in 1st iteration)

product = 0.16026915

Arcos 0.16026915 = 80.77748103

divide by 3 = 26.92582701

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – 26.92582701 = 162.85091882

and so on (again, more iterations than most cusps)

RA14 = RAMC + 180 – 26.82022036 = 162.95652547

180-degree adjustment to get an angle under 90 degrees:

162.95652547-180 = -17.04347453 (or just enter original figure)

11. Convert final RA to longitude: 3rd cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

Tan -17.04347453 = -0.30656057

Cos 23.4410092 = 0.91746255 (calculated at step 3)

quotient = -0.33413960

Arctan -0.33413960 = -18.47651491

180-degree adjustment to get a positive value:

-18.47651491+180 = 161.52348509 = 161d 31m 24.546s

As the zodiac commences at 0 Aries, Aries+Taurus+Gemini+Cancer+Leo=150,

3rd house cusp = 11Virgo 31’ 24.546"

{rough check: having established the sign of the MC, if you have any doubt over the
signs of the 11th to 3rd house cusps – after making 180 degree corrections or
whatever – you know they must be within half a zodiac circle from the MC}

12. By simple geometry, the opposite cusps are just the opposite signs

10th house cusp (MC) 10Aries 38’ 13.266" 4th = 10Libra 38’ 13.266"

11th house cusp = 20Taurus 30’ 28.766" 5th = 20Scorpio 30’ 28.766"

12th house cusp = 2Cancer 28’ 46.095" 6th = 2Capricorn 28’ 46.095"

1st house cusp (Asc) = 4Leo 23’ 28.760" 7th = 4Aquarius 23’ 28.760"

2nd house cusp = 20Leo 37’ 57.564" 8th = 20Aquarius 37’ 57.564"

3rd house cusp = 11Virgo 31’ 24.546" 9th = 11Pisces 31’ 24.546"

Intercepted Signs

There is no need to be concerned about the fact that Leo (and Aquarius) appear twice
and Gemini (and Sagittarius) don’t appear at all in the final list. It’s part of the nature
of the Placidus system that at increasing latitudes (over 45 degrees or so) the effect
of the trisection of sidereal time is to create increasingly skewed segments when the
sphere is projected onto the plane.

In the Hermetic System of Astrology this is interpreted as a restriction in the

expression of the energies of those signs that don’t appear on a house cusp i.e. the
‘intercepted’ signs. [You might think of it as like a car being stuck in the middle lane
of the freeway and being unable to change lanes easily, hemmed in by lanes either
side.] The impact of this is reflected in the relevant part of the Astrodyne calculations
(a unique feature of the Hermetic System of Astrology).
Precision Discussion

How many decimal places in these results are justified?

On average, a house cusp (or the MC/Asc) moves through 15 seconds of longitude in
1 second of birthtime; hence a birthtime to the tenth (0.1) of a second can only justify
house cusps to the second – with the first decimal place in doubt; a birthtime to the
hundredth (0.01) of a second justifies cusps to the tenth (0.1) of a second – with the
second decimal place in doubt; a birthtime to the thousandth (0.001) of a second is
required for house cups to the hundredth of a second (0.01) – with the third decimal
place in doubt.

With ‘defined’ times such as this example, we theoretically have a birthtime to any
number of decimal places of a second and therefore we can justify as many decimal
places as we like – due to the time factor. The caveat or condition here is that you
need to check your source (ephemeris) for its currency of Delta T value. For
example, if your ephemeris has Delta T values only up to the year 2000 then you will
need to obtain updated values and make a small adjustment to your input time – if
you are dealing in birthtimes to the fraction of a second. Comparing MICA (2.2.2)
with IERS figures, at 1/1/2005: 64.688 to 64.6876 is quite close; at 1/1/2016: 68.538
to 68.1024 shows a more significant deviation. {The short explanation is that any
projection of future changes in the rate of rotation of the Earth is subject to error, as
the change of rate is irregular; some years have a ‘leap second’ added, some don’t.
(The extra second represents the rate of slowing i.e. a second in a year is a proportion
of 1 in 31,556,926 or so.) }

As for the location (geographical coordinates) factor, one second of longitude

translates directly to 1 second of zodiacal longitude in the MC (10th cusp), so
coordinates to the tenth (0.1) of a second of longitude/latitude – equivalent to
approximately 3 metres on the Earth’s surface (certainly a practical limit as far as
defining a building’s position is concerned) – are required to justify house cusps to
the tenth (0.1) of a second. And in such a case there would still be a degree of
uncertainty in the first decimal place.

As for obliquity of the ecliptic, the effect of error in latitude is an order of magnitude
more serious than an error in obliquity: typically, change latitude by 1" (second) =
change Asc by 0.5"; change obliquity by 1" = change Asc by 0.1".

In short, the maximum practical precision of house cusps one can obtain is to the
tenth of a second. Therefore, figures presented in these worked examples are for the
purposes of illustration and have theoretical but not practical value beyond one
decimal place of seconds of zodiacal longitude. As for declination, there might be a
case for allowing two decimal places, as the rate of motion of the planets in
declination is so much slower than that of the house cusps in longitude.

Example Chart: - (Southern Hemisphere)

Botswana: here again we have an ‘exact’ or defined time – midnight – though the
location is not as precise as the previous example’s. I am using the coordinates of the
parliament building but as it was not in existence in 1966 these results can’t be taken
as the correct chart for Botswana, but do serve to illustrate calculations for a southern
hemisphere birth of top quality time data.

[Naturally, this example is somewhat abbreviated where all the relevant details are
already shown in the Germany example.]

30th of September, 1966; midnight (beginning of the day), zone 2h East of

Greenwich; Gaborone – 24S39’29" (L) and 25E54’39"

MICA for: Obliquity of the Ecliptic [true] (e)

Local Sidereal Time [apparent] (LST)

L = -24.65805556 (converted to decimal degrees, minus sign for south latitudes)

e = 23 26’ 43.7777" = 23. 44549381 (decimal degrees)

LST = 0h 16m 28.8722s = 0.27468672 (decimal hours)

1. Convert LST to RAMC (time in hours to angular measure in degrees)

0h 16m 28.8722s = 0.27468672 x 15 (15 degrees per hour)

RAMC = 4.12030083 degrees

2. Calculate the MC = arctan (tan RAMC/cos e)

Tan 4.12030083 = 0.07203704

Cos 23.44549381 = 0.91743899

0.07203704/0.91743899 = 0.07851970

Arctan 0.07851970 = 4.48963599 = 4d 29m 22.690" = 4d 29m 22.690"

[Rule: if RAMC in range 0 to 90d, use the MC figure; if RAMC 90 to 270 add 180 to
the MC; if RAMC 270 to 360 add 180 and reverse the sign (eg Virgo to Pisces)]

As the zodiac commences at 0 degrees Aries: MC = 4Aries 29’ 22.690"

{rough check: it’s Aries because the sidereal time is little more than zero}

3. Calculate the Asc = arccot {-[(tan L x sin e) + (sin RAMC x cos e)]/cos RAMC}

Tan -24.65805556 = -0.45906197

Sin 23. 44549381 = 0.39787648

product = -0.18264996

Sin 4.12030083 = 0.07185085

Cos 23.44549381 = 0.91743899 (calculated at step 2)

product = 0.06591877

sum of -0.18264996 and 0.06591877 = -0.11673119

Cos 4.12030083 = 0.99741539

(minus) -0.11673119/0.99741539 = 0.11703368

Arccot 0.11703368 = 83.32483017 = 83d 19m 29.389"

[Rule: if Asc 0 to 90 degrees (Aries to Gemini quadrant), accept it ; if Asc -90 to 0

(Cancer to Virgo), add 180 degrees; if Asc 0 to 90 (Libra to Sagittarius), add 180d ;

if Asc -90 to 0 (Capricorn to Pisces quadrant), add 180d and reverse the sign]

Asc = 23Gemini 19’ 29.389"

3A. Calculate the declination of MC & Asc =arcsin [sin(zodiacal longitude) x sin e]

Sin 4.48963599 (MC) = 0.07827877

Sin 23. 44549381 = 0.39787648 (calculated at step 3)

product = 0.03114528

Arcsin 0.03114528= 1.78478171 = 1d 47m 05.214s (plus value, so North)

{rough check: if MC is between Aries and Virgo it’s North declination}

MC declination = 01N 47’ 05.214"

Sin 83.32483017 (Asc) = 0.99322112

Sin 23. 44549381 = 0.39787648 (as above)

product = 0.39517932

Arcsin 0.39517932 = 23.27715826 = 23d 16m 37.770s (plus value, North)

Asc declination = 23N 16’ 37.770"

4. Calculate the 11th house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+30 degrees = 4.12030083+30 = 34.12030083

RA2 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

RA3 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

Sin 34.12030083 = 0.56093236

minus sign = -0.56093236

Tan 23.44549381 = 0.43368167

Tan -24.65805556 = -0.45906197 (calculated at step 3)

product = 0.11167421

Arcos -0.11167421 = 83.58816475

divide by 3 = 27.86272158

RA2 = RAMC+27.86272158 = 4.12030083+27.86272158= 31.98302242

Sin 31.98302242 = 0.52966795

minus sign = -0.52966795

Tan 23.44549381 = 0.43368167 (as in 1st iteration)

Tan -24.65805556 = -0.45906197 (as in 1st iteration)

product = 0.10544988

Arcos 0.10544988 = 83.94691344

divide by 3 = 27.98230448

RA3 = RAMC + 27.98230448 = 32.10260531

and so on

RA9 = RAMC + 27.97590182 = 32.09620266

5. Convert final RA to longitude: 11th cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

Tan 32.09620266 = 0.62720647

Cos 23.44549381 = 0.91743899 (calculated at step 3)

quotient = 0.68364923

Arctan 0.68364923 = 34.35843398 = 34d 21m 30.362s

As the zodiac commences at 0 degrees Aries, Aries=30,

11th house cusp = 4Taurus 21’ 30.362"

6. Calculate the 12th house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+60 degrees = 4.12030083+60 = 64.12030083

RA2 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

RA3 = RAMC+{arcos[-(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

Sin 64.12030083 = 0.89971249

minus sign = -0.89971249

Tan 23.44549381 = 0.43368167 (calculated at step 4)

Tan -24.65805556 = -0.45906197 (calculated at step 3)

product = 0.17912085

Arcos 0.17912085 = 79.68144419

divide by 1.5 = 53.12096279

RA2 = RAMC + 53.12096279 = 4.12030083+53.12096279 = 57.24126363

Sin 57.24126363 = 0.84095652

minus sign = -0.84095652

Tan 23.44549381 = 0.43368167 (as in 1st iteration)

Tan -24.65805556 = -0.45906197 (as in 1st iteration)

product = 0.16742331

Arcos 0.16742331 = 80.36196147

divide by 1.5 = 53.57464098

RA3 = RAMC + 53.57464098 = 57.69494181

and so on

RA10 = RAMC + 53.54399952 = 57.66430036

7. Convert final RA to longitude: 12th cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

Tan 57.66430036 = 1.57966357

Cos 23.44549381 = 0.91743899 (calculated at step 3)

quotient = 1.72181865

Arctan 1.72181865 = 59.85278322 = 59d 51m 10.020s

As the zodiac commences at 0 degrees Aries,

12th house cusp = 29Taurus 51’ 10.020"

8. Calculate the 2nd house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+120 degrees = 4.12030083 +120 = 124.12030083

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/1.5

Sin 124.12030083 = 0.82786164

{angle over 90 so there will be an adjustment at the end}

Tan 23.44549381 = 0.43368167 (calculated at step 4)

Tan -24.65805556 = -0.45906197 (calculated at step 3)

product = -0.16481629

Arcos -0.16481629 = 99.48656277

divide by 1.5 = 66.32437518

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – 66.32437518 = 4.12030083 +180-66.32437518

= 117.79592566
Sin 117.79592566 = 0.88461414

Tan 23.44549381 = 0.43368167 (as in 1st iteration)

Tan -24.65805556 = -0.45906197 (as in 1st iteration)

product = -0.17611497

Arcos -0.17611497 = 100.14354871

divide by 1.5 = 66.76236580

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – 66.76236580 = 117.35793503

and so on

RA10 = RAMC + 180 – 66.79151171 = 117.32878912

9. Convert final RA to longitude: 2nd cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

Tan 117.32878912 = -1.93507823

Cos 23.44549381 = 0.91743899 (calculated at step 2)

quotient = -2.10921733

Arctan -2.10921733 = -64.63392497

180-degree adjustment to get a positive value:

-64.63392497+180 = 115.36607503 = 115d 21m 57.870s

As the zodiac commences at 0 Aries, Aries+Taurus+Gemini=90,

2nd house cusp = 25Cancer 21’ 57.870"

10. Calculate the 3rd house cusp:

RA1 = RAMC+150 degrees = 4.12030083 +150 = 154.12030083

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA1) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – {arcos[(sin RA2) x (tan e) x (tan L)]}/3

Sin 154.12030083 = 0.0.43648303

{angle over 90 so there will be an adjustment at the end}

Tan 23.44549381 = 0.43368167 (calculated at step 4)

Tan -24.65805556 = -0.45906197 (calculated at step 3)

product = -0.08689799

Arcos -0.08689799 = 94.98517584

divide by 3 = 31.66172528

RA2 = RAMC + 180 – 31.66172528 = 4.12030083 +180-31.66172528

= 152.45857555

Sin 152.45857555 = 0.46238979

Tan 23.44549381 = 0.43368167 (as in 1st iteration)

Tan -24.65805556 = -0.45906197 (as in 1st iteration)

product = -0.09205569

Arcos -0.09205569 = 95.28188036

divide by 3 = 31.76062678

RA3 = RAMC + 180 – 31.76062678 = 152.35967405

and so on

RA9 = RAMC + 180 – 31.76683514 = 152.35346570

11. Convert final RA to longitude: 3rd cusp longitude = arctan (tan RA/cos e)

Tan 152.35346570 = -0.52382196

Cos 23.44549381 = 0.91743899 (calculated at step 2)

quotient = -0.57096108

Arctan -0.57096108 = -29.72468510

180-degree adjustment to get a positive value:

-29.72468510+180 = 150.27531490 = 150d 16m 31.134s

As the zodiac commences at 0 Aries, Aries+Taurus+Gemini+Cancer+Leo=150,

3rd house cusp = 0Virgo 16’ 31.134"

12. By simple geometry, the opposite cusps are just the opposite signs

10th house cusp (MC) 4Aries 29’ 22.690" 4th = 4Libra 29’ 22.690"

11th house cusp = 4Taurus 21’ 30.362" 5th = 4Scorpio 21’ 30.362"

12th house cusp = 29Taurus 51’ 10.020" 6th = 29Scorpio 51’ 10.020"

1st house cusp (Asc) = 23Gemini 19’ 29.389" 7th =23Sagittarius 19’ 29.389"

2nd house cusp = 25Cancer 21’ 57.870" 8th = 25Capricorn 21’ 57.870"

3rd house cusp = 0Virgo 16’ 31.134" 9th = 0Pisces 16’ 31.134"

21416

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