What is an orb in astrology?
How far an aspect is from exact. Two planets are almost never at precisely the aspect’s exact angle, so an aspect is counted when it falls within an allowed distance from exact, called the orb. The distance from exact is calculated; how wide an orb to allow is an astrological convention. Tighter aspects are generally given more weight in interpretation. OrbHeaven’s birth charts allow 8° for a conjunction or opposition, 7° for a square or trine, 5° for a sextile and 2.5° for a quincunx. Transits to your chart allow 3°, 2° for a sextile and 1.5° for a quincunx. In either case, OrbHeaven allows 1° more when the Sun or Moon is one of the pair.
Where astrologers disagree
There is no universal orb table. Different astrologers and software may count an aspect that another leaves out. Traditional systems may assign orbs to planets rather than using one allowance for each aspect. OrbHeaven uses the values above for birth charts and transits to your chart; some other OrbHeaven features use tighter allowances for their specific purpose.
In the reference library: Orbs: how close an aspect must be to count, with an interactive dial
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Where you see this in OrbHeaven
Draw your own chart and this definition stops being abstract: the same term, with your numbers in it. Every placement, house and aspect, with the engine, the house system and the exact universal time printed underneath. No account, no email address, and nothing you type is kept.
No account, no email address, and nothing you type is kept.
How the planets get on
Aspects, and the arithmetic that decides whether one counts.