How to get your birth chart

Your birth chart is a circular map of the solar system, as seen from the Earth, at your time of birth.

To calculate your birth chart, you need three pieces of information:

• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Time of birth

Once you have these three pieces of information, you are good to go!

There are several very good astrology software packages on the market. In order to get started right away, though, I’m going to show you a free online option.

Astro.com

Astrodienst is one of the oldest and most respected sites in the online astrology community. It’s also the most accurate.  The chart calculation feature is free and requires no registration.

• Open up www.astro.com – Astrodienst Homepage in your web browser.
• Under the “Free Horoscopes” section, navigate to “Natal Chart, Ascendant” or “Extended Chart Selection”
• Then enter your birth information. After you’ve entered the data, choose “Chart drawing” to view your chart.

Pro-tip: Always check your chart details for accuracy. It only takes a few moments to prevent massive frustration– when you learn you’ve spent hours reading the wrong birth chart!

Don’t know your time of birth? An accurate birth time gives you a more complete picture, but you can still cast a valid chart without it. You may calculate the chart for either noon or sunrise on your day of birth.

• If you were born in the United States, your time of birth is probably on record in the state where you were born. Most states have an office responsible for vital statistics. Some will give you your time of birth on the phone, but others require you to order your birth certificate.
• If you order your birth certificate, make it clear that you want the time of birth displayed. Otherwise, it may be omitted.
• If you were born outside the United States, contact the government office in your country that keeps birth records.
• No luck? If a recorded birth time is unavailable, try this handy chart rectification tool.