RELATIONSHIP ATLAS / GUIDE
How do you read aspects in a comparison chart?
Relationship Atlas editorial team · Adapted from the Chinese article
Synastry compares angles between two people’s planets. Read the planets, the aspect, its orb and whose planet plays each role together. An aspect is symbolic information, not proof of either person’s thoughts or the outcome of a relationship.
Birth chart or synastry?
A birth chart describes one person’s natal configuration. Synastry compares positions between two charts. Your Moon square another person’s Saturn and your Saturn square their Moon reverse the roles; do not reduce both to an undirected label.
What are the main aspects?
Conjunctions bring two positions close together; sextiles and trines are commonly read as more accessible connections; squares and oppositions can highlight differences or tension. None is automatically good, bad or decisive. Consider the planets, the rest of both charts and real interactions.
What is an orb?
The orb is the difference between the measured angle and an exact aspect. A 92° angle is 2° from a 90° square. Astrologers use different orb limits, and context matters; a tight aspect alone cannot establish the central issue in a relationship.
What if a birth time is unknown?
The ascendant and houses depend strongly on time and place. The Moon moves relatively quickly, so its degree or sign can also change. Treat time-dependent aspects as uncertain instead of presenting a guessed time as fact.
Continue exploring
Five major angles at a glance
Conjunction: 0°, positions meet; sextile: 60°, a potential connection; square: 90°, a difference to work with; trine: 120°, a potentially easier flow; opposition: 180°, two perspectives across an axis. These are starting points within an astrological tradition, not a ranking of relationship quality. Check the planets, roles and orb before interpreting.
Sources and limits
For angle and orb terminology, see Astrodienst: aspects; for the distinction between two-chart comparisons and other partner charts, see Astrodienst: partner horoscopes. These sources describe astrological methods, not scientific proof of relationship outcomes.