Frequently asked questions

House systems are a matter of the personal taste of the Astrologer. We cannot give advice on this choice. There is no right or wrong. It's more a matter of experience with different systems.

Yes, you can. Please, choose the zodiac in the respective drop-down menu in the Extended Chart Selection. We have numerous Ayanamshas, types of sidereal zodiac.

No, we do not tend to add new, specialised techniques. Astrodienst's free online service is targeted at a wide audience of lay persons interested in astrology, and at the basic needs of serious astrology students. The purpose of Astrodienst's web services is not to fulfill the needs of technically oriented specialists who are interested in very rare astrological methods.
The selection of various chart types available at Astrodienst reflect those astrological techniques which have been in use in German-speaking countries during and after 1980, and they reflect Dr. Treindl's own interest in astrological studies. He programmed the types of charts which the customers of Astrodienst's chart services requested and paid for in the 1980ies (before good astrological PC software existed), and in addition those techniques which either interested him personally, or some of his close astrological friends.
We are aware that there exist many other techniques which we do not offer. Among these are 'precession corrected' (should be called precession falsified) calculations, and converse progressions, which are not in use in central Europe. Astrodienst is not expanding its spread of technical charts at this time - we are concentrating on other services right now.
Please do not be disappointed if the general answer to such requests is a simple 'no'. Sometimes there are some hidden treasures in our rich treasure chest, which can be of use. Just take a stroll around.
There are also excellent software programs on the market which fulfill most of the technical needs an experienced astrologer may have, for example Kepler by Cosmic Patterns, and Solar Fire. We highly recommend that experienced astrologers acquire such software for their own PC.

For 'converse' secondary progressions, use negative age with offset from your birth date. In the Extended Chart Selection, select 'progressed chart' and, if you are, for example, born in 1950 and want converse progressions for 2002, the age is 52. Using negative age, you ought to enter the year 1898 as 'start date'

Primary directions contain converse directions, as they are traditional there. Please see question 8.

No we don't. Because we do not consider the method logical and consistent in itself.
Tropical astrology uses a frame of reference which moves with the rhythm of the Sun-Moon-Earth system. The technique of "precession correction" breaks this system trying to introduce a notion of "natal birth marks in absolute space". This is false on several levels:
The reference frame it introduces is not absolute, it translates and rotates with the (fast) movement of the solar system within the galaxy. A transiting planet does never return to the point in absolute space where it once was.
The concept of "return charts" and of transits altogether is - on a deeper level - a symbolic concept rather than a physical concept. It should therefore be applied in a consistent symbolic system and not in an inconsistent potpourri of systems.

If you want to get around precession, we recommend to do "sidereal" astrology with one of its unprecessed reference frames. We don't think it makes sense to mix incompatible systems.

For example, in the additional data tables for chart drawing styles 'Munich Rhythms' or 'Studer'.

No, there is not.
In continental Europe, which is our astrological background, the method of progression is quite uniform and done the way it is implemented on astro.com.
The basic and simple rule is:
1 day in the printed ephemeris = 1 year of life

This means that the planets are progressed with their own motion in longitude on the ecliptic.
Sidereal time (ARMC) is progressed with 3m56s per day. House cusps are derived from this progessed ARMC.

However, it is possible to show solar arc progressions next to the Astrodienst secondary progressions on the outer circle of the natal chart. To do this, please go to "Free Horoscopes" -> "Extended Chart Selection" -> "Circular charts" and select the chart type "Natal, progressions and solar arc combined" or click here. The solar arc progressions will be shown in blue around the outer circle. Do not ignore the additional data tables, linked on top of the chart. There, look at page 3.

In addition, there is the Ebertin life diagram: Solar Arc and the additional data tables that come with it. It is very useful for those who want to compute events by Solar Arc.

Yes, we do, in Extended Chart Selection, Special, near the bottom of the list, or here. It is important to consult the additional data tables on top of the chart.

Primary Directions are a complex subject, somewhat neglected since the second half of the 20th century.

At the bottom of the primary direction chart is a link "Special options for primary directions", which explains how different technical options can be chosen. There is currently no web-interface for these options, it has do be done via manipulation of the URL.
To add some special options for primary directions, please edit the URL in your browser window. Please insert or append the string

&stx2=/opt=val/opt=val...
where opt=val pairs are selected from this list:

mb=0    promissors without latitude
mc=1    direct directions only
mc=2    converse directions only
placmeth=ku     definition of Placidus houses according to Kuehr
placmeth=pl     definition of Placidus houses according to Placidus

key values
ms=n    Naibod/Kühr
ms=L    solar motion on ecliptic on birthday
ms=a    solar motion on equator on birthday
ms=k    Kündig: 1 degree in AR
ms=dd.mm.ss     numeric value

mn=3    use also houses as significators
h=      house system, can be P,R,C,K,A,E,V

pn=     list of natal planets (AFL letter string)
pn=+    list of added natal planets
pn=-    list of deleted natal planets