Alova - Astrology For All Latitudes - A New Topocentric House System

A New Topocentric
House System

Astrology for All Latitudes: A New Topocentric House System
by Alova
2010, to be published in ISAR International Astrologer, Leo 2010
Posted with permission. This article may be printed out for personal, non-commercial use only.
Abstract: The problem of defining astrological house cusps at polar latitudes is reviewed. A
simple solution is proposed. The resulting house system can be used at all latitudes, has
house cusps extremely close to Placidus cusps up to 60 latitude, has no jumps in house
cusps, and reflects the type of day we experience at polar latitudes.
In ISAR International Astrologer, Sagittarius 2009, An Astrological Dilemma: Polar Latitudes(1)
describes what happens when we attempt to construct horoscopes for latitudes above the Arctic
Circles, where most house systems are completely undefined. Cases are shown where the traditionally-
defined Ascendant or Descendant are actually conjunct the Midheaven and there are only two, four, or
six houses in the horoscope. For some period of the day, the traditional Ascendant moves backward
through the zodiac.(2)(3) What are we to do with our house cusps at these times? They work so well at
lower latitudes.
We need a solutionand we need one that works astrologically. We should be able to construct
astrological charts for anywhere on the Earth, using a consistent methodnot abruptly switching
calculation method when our preferred method breaks down, as most astrology programs do (without
informing you).
What if you took a summer cruise to see the Northern Lights, and you wanted to schedule a celebration
at a favorable time? What if an explorer consulted you to choose good dates for a dangerous polar
expedition? What about researching meteorological events at the weather station in Alert, Canada?
How would you feel being left completely out of Astrology just because of where you were born?
For a solution to this problem we must either discard the Ascendant or Midheaven as house cusps, or
adjust our definition of the Ascendant or Midheaven, as explained in previous issues.(1)(3) Since the
traditional Ascendant and Midheaven have both been shown by arduous research on tens of thousands
of charts to be coordinated with actual characteristics of real people, it would be improper to discard
either one of them completely.
The Ascendant is traditionally defined as the intersection of the Eastern side of the Horizon with the
Earth-Sun (Ecliptic) plane. Since the Sun is always in the Ecliptic plane, this definition is based upon
the path of the Sun from our viewpoint on Earth. Up to temperate latitudes, Sunrise to Sunset
corresponds to our diurnal rhythm, getting up in the morning and going to bed at night. This definition
is quite natural because at most latitudes, the Sun does rise and set every day, and so this definition
models a 24-hour day, one spin of the Earth. However, as pointed out in the above-mentioned articles,
at the North Pole it is one full year from one Sunrise to the next! If the Sun does not rise or does not
set for days, people still get up and retire every day, and this diurnal rhythm should be reflected in a
horoscope. The appropriate cycle on which to model a house system is not Sunrise-to-Sunrise (as with
most traditional house systems), but rather one 24-hour day, one spin of the Earth on its axis.
Up to the Arctic Circles, all degrees of the zodiac rise and set once each day. At higher tropical
latitudes, some sections of the zodiac are of fast ascension and others are of slow ascension, but
all degrees do rise and set. (See Fig. 1) The East Point is at the center of the circles in Fig. 1, pointing
out of the page. Notice that if we are at the Equator, the Ascendant (a point along the thick line,
depending on the time of day) is quite close to the East Point, and if we are at the Arctic Circle, the
Astrology for All Latitudes: A New Topocentric House System, Art... http://astrowisdom.net/articles/new-topocentric-house-system.htm
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Ascendant can be very far from the East Point. At high latitudes in summer and winter, the Sun rises
from Northeast or Southeast, far from due East.

Figure 1 Up to the Arctic Circles, the Horizon Intersects the Entire Ecliptic
At polar latitudes, however, some degrees of the zodiac never rise or set. (See Fig. 2.)

Figure 2 Some Sections of the Ecliptic Cannot Rise on Some Days

At extreme latitudes, Sunrise to Sunset can actually take up to 6 months. A 24-hour diurnal rhythm
does not correspond to Sunrise-to-Sunset in the Arctics. It is at these times that our astrological
horoscopes fail utterly. For this reason, we must change our definition of the Ascendant in order to
solve the problem of constructing horoscopes at all latitudes.
Our new definition must be identical to the old one at lower latitudes, and, at polar latitudes, it must
cycle through the zodiac every24 hours just like it does at lower latitudes. Our new definition must
start with one view (our old formula) and, just like progressive bifocal lenses, gradually progress to a
new view that makes sense for polar latitudes. The Ascendant should go through the 360 of the zodiac
every 24 hours, without skipping, jumping 180, or turning backwards, at all latitudes up to 89 59'
59".
As pointed out in a previous International Astrologer article,(4) the intermediate house cusps for
Placidus, Koch, and Topocentric house systems are based on both time and space: the Midheaven and
Ascendant are defined according to the usual space-geometry formulas, and the intermediate cusps are
determined by dividing the time between certain moments of the Suns motion above the Horizon.
However, at polar latitudes there are times when the Sun doesnt appear above the Horizon so there are
no times to trisect. Thus, the Placidus, Koch, and several other house systems are actually undefined
for polar latitudes.
Where can we start? One house systemand only one house systemhas a method in place to
calculate house cusps at different poles (a mathematical term corresponding to latitude). This house
system, in fact, views the Earth from our position on its surfacethe same view we use when drawing
planets in a (geocentric) horoscope wheel. The cusps of this house system are almost identical to
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Placidus cusps at lower latitudes. This house system is the only one that uses the Ascendant and
Midheaven, yet is defined for polar latitudes. It is the Topocentric House System developed by Polich
& Page.(3)
However, the Topocentric House System has not yet been refined to meet our requirements outlined
above. It uses the traditionally-defined Ascendant up to the Arctic Circle, and then there are two
versions of what happens next. According to at least one source,(5) the pole of the Ascendant is
equal to the latitude up to 66.56 (the traditional definition), and then turns around and approaches
zero at 90 latitude(see graph, Fig. 3 below). This means that at the North Pole, the Ascendant would
coincide with the Equatorial Ascendant (close to the East Point, as in the left diagram in Fig. 1).
Why should the Polar Ascendant coincide with the Equatorial Ascendant? They are 90 apart, and one
experiences entirely different days at the Equator and at the North Pole. In addition, the abrupt change
in the graph at 66.56 results in strange changes in horoscopes from just below to just above the Arctic
Circle. It would make more sense for the changes to be gradual and monotonic, like the gradual
increase and decline of the Sun in Nature.
At the North and South Poles, the Topocentric Pole of the Ascendant should reflect its extreme, just as
its value at the Equator already reflects its minimum. Since the extreme of what we observe in Nature
is at the Poles, the maximum zodiacal range of the Ascendant should also occur at the Poles.
Figure 3 depicts a simple modification of the Topocentric House System. Instead of calculating the
Ascendant as the intersection of the Horizon and Ecliptic at all latitudes (the straight line, which fails),
and instead of abruptly changing our definition of the Ascendant at 66.56 (which also presents
problems), we calculate our ascendant according to the Proposed curve. The formula is quite simple
and is given below. Right at the North and South Poles, 90 geographical latitude, the pole of the
Ascendant is 66.56. This means that, at the North Pole, the Ascendant is defined as the intersection of
the Horizon at 66.56N with the Ecliptic. Exactly at the North or South Pole, and nowhere else, the
Pole of the Ascendant is undefined for one instant per day.

This simple modification in the calculation of the Topocentric Ascendant meets our criteria for a
house system that works for all latitudes:
It is defined for all latitudes, just as a day exists for all latitudes, whether the Sun rises or sets or not,
whether the Horizon intersects the Ecliptic or not, and whether any particular degrees of the zodiac rise that
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day or not.
The Ascendant moves from its first view to its new view gradually and monotonically as our latitude
increases, like Nature, and like progressive lenses.
All of the progressive Topocentric house cusps are identical to the previous Topocentric house cusps for
latitudes up to 43, and extremely close for latitudes up to 60.
In turn, the progressive Topocentric house cusps are extremely close to Placidus house cusps, for which
there is much hard and even more soft evidence.
The extremes astrologically (some large houses and some small houses) occur at the times and places of the
extremes in Nature.
Since Topocentric House cusps are calculated based on the Pole of the Ascendant, calculating the
intermediate cusps is quite straightforward, just like before.
This progressive Topocentric house system, through its simple modification of the pole of the
Ascendant, reflects Nature in the horoscope. It reflects the fact that there is a 24-hour day in which we
arise and retire, with or without sunshine or a well-behaved traditionally-defined Ascendant. It reflects
that fact that we see half of the horizon at a time, wherever we are. It reflects the fact that the rising and
setting of the Sun and planets happen more gradually at polar latitudes, and thus we might experience
them slightly differently. It reflects the fact that the planets and stars influence us, even if we dont see
them above the horizon for a long time. And it reflects the fact that human life indeed exists and
thrives in polar regions.
The Sirius 1 and Kepler 7 programs already have this new progressive Topocentric House System as
an option.(6) Here are the wheels for Andrey, Andrea, and Andrei using old and new house
systems:(7)

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(Although you may have never heard of the Porphyry House System, your computer program is
probably using it for Arctic latitudes if you select Placidus, Koch, or several others that are undefined
at polar latitudes.)
For lower latitudes, there is no need to show new research on the validity and utility of this new
progressive Topocentric House System because the house cusps are so close to Placidus on which
such research has already been done. Here are some comparisons:
Dalai Lama (36N)
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Princess Diana (53N)
Notice how close the house cusps are only a few minutes of arc in most cases. For Princess Diana
born at 53N, the maximum difference, for the cusp of the 2nd house, is only 1 22'.
Ann-Margaret (64N)
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For Ann-Margaret, born only 2 from to the Arctic Circle, the new progressive Topocentric
Ascendant is quite close to Venus, Sun and Saturn, and in close trine to her Midheaven (which is
unchanged). Astrologers can quickly recognize that this Ascendant makes more sense, considering her
earthy, voluptuous sensuality. The traditional Ascendant lacks major aspects and places eight planets
well into the 12th house, which is inconsistent with her prominent dancing career focusing on the
physical body. However, her personality and career are very consistent with the new progressive
Ascendant conjunct Sun, Venus, and Saturn, showing four planets, including Moon and Jupiter, in the
first house.
Had she been born further north in Kiruna, Sweden,
Placidus, Koch and others could not even construct a
chart that is readable:
With this new house system, you can now calculate
charts for Arctic latitudes, at all times of day and
year, and see horoscopes that you can actually
interpret.
The proof is in the results! Try it out, and include a few
horoscopes for events in arctic regionswhich you can
finally calculate rather than be left empty-handed.
The formula and technical details are included below so that all astrology programs can easily add this
new house system. The adjustment is so simple that it requires only two lines of code for a program
that already has Topocentric house system as an option.
The first test of a house system is natal or event interpretation. We can test and utilize predictive
methods only after we have a house system that we can trust because a large number of astrologers
find it to consistently yield accurate natal interpretations. And, of course, because it can be used for
events anywhere on our beloved Earth.
Meanwhile, if you are approached by an oil executive for advice on when and where to drill for oil in
Siberia, you can now take up the challenge!
How to Calculate Topocentric House Cusps
The method of calculating house cusps for Topocentric house system remains unchanged. The only
difference in the new progressive method is that a new value of the pole of the Ascendant is used.
The formula for the proposed modification, as represented by the Proposed curve on the above
graph, is simple and straightforward:
The following table indicates values of L and L' from 0 to 90, along with the corresponding Poles of
the intermediate Topocentric houses. The pole is the latitude for calculating the Ascendant using a
normal Table of Ascendants (such as Placidus). As usual, the Pole of the 11th and 3rd houses = arctan
(1/3 tan L'), and the Pole of 12th and 2nd houses = arctan (2/3 tan L').
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Intermediate cusps in the Topocentric House System are calculated from a normal Table of Houses by
simply finding the Ascendant at the pole, at the time listed for the house. For example, for a birth at
Sidereal Time 3.0h at latitude 50N, calculate the Midheaven and Ascendant for 3h, 49.49455N. Then
the 11th house cusp is the Ascendant at 23h, 21.316N, the 12th cusp is the Ascendant at 1h,
37.969N, the 2nd cusp is the Ascendant at 5h, 37.969N, and the 3rd cusp is the Ascendant at 7h,
21.316N. These calculations yield:
For an event at polar latitudes, simply follow the same procedure using the above table (or formulas).
For a birth at 3h S.T. at latitude 70N, the following values are obtained:
Data Requested: Now that there is a house system that can actually construct charts for polar
latitudes, data is needed for research purposes. Anyone who might be able to help gather birth data is
graciously invited to contact the author by e-mail listed below. Fluency in Russian would be especially
valuable since Murmansk, Russia, should be a good source. Data for people who are alive and willing
to answer questions is preferred. Data for birth twins, born anywhere, is also requested.
Theoretical Note
Constructing a house system for all latitudes that uses the traditional Ascendant and Midheaven,
which have been found empirically to be significant, is not a simple matter.(6) The Topocentric House
System is empirical, its geometrical theory somewhat unusual, so the present empirical proposal does
not represent a serious theoretical divergence and may in fact strengthen the fundamental topocentric
approach if it proves useful. Experiment is the ultimate test. The Topocentric House System works
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well, is one of the few for which polar horoscopes are possible, and its empirical success at lower
latitudes inspirednay, necessitatedthe present work.
Notice that the formula proposed for the Topocentric Pole of the Ascendant would also work if the
Earth were inclined at other angles. If the Earths inclination were 10, the Pole of the Ascendant
between 70 and 90 would go smoothly from 70 to 80, and if the Earths inclination were 40, the
Pole of the Ascendant between 10 and 90 would go smoothly from 10 to 50.
Day-for-a-year predictive techniques in any house system, including the common Solar progression,
seem to be useful in some non-polar cases, but fail completely in other cases. Transits, on the other
hand, are found by both Western and traditional Indian astrologers to be always involved in the timing
of events, even though they are not in themselves sufficient for prediction. In fact, if any purely
astrological or mathematical system were sufficient for prediction, then all events would be
pre-determined, and such is certainly not the case. When a House System is found that work for all
latitudes, then and only then can we test predictive techniques involving its house cusps
References
Alova, An Astrological Dilemma: Polar Latitudes, ISAR International Astrologer, Sagittarius 2009, p.
27-33, posted on www.astrosoftware.com/PolarDilemma.htm and www.astrowisdom.net/articles
/astrological-dilemma-polar-latitudes.htm.
1.
Wilhelm, Ivan, Charts in Arctic Regions of the Earth, http://hem.bredband.net/ivawil/program/polar
/index.htm. This article shows with beautiful 3-dimensional pictures how the Ascendant has to jump 180
twice a day at polar latitudes (during winter and summer) because some sections of the Ecliptic do not
intersect the Horizon. If one uses an alternate definition of the Midheaven so that it also jumps 180 at the
same time as the Ascendant does, this results in horoscopes with the entire zodiac going clockwise for a
portion of the day.
2.
Alova, Astro-Geometry, ISAR International Astrologer, Aries 2010, posted on
www.astrosoftware.com/Astro-Geometry.htm and www.astrowisdom.net/articles/astro-geometry.htm.
3.
Polich, Wendel & A.P. Nelson Page, The Topocentric System of Houses, Spica, 1964, Vol. 3, No. 3, p.
1-10, posted on http://pollux1151.hypermart.net/topocentric.pdf.
4.
Balasundaram, B. and A.R. Raichur, Universal Table of Houses, 2nd ed. (1997, Chennai: Krishnamurti
Publications).
5.
In Sirius 1.1, go to Settings/Other Settings/Astro Settings/Ayanam.Houses and check the box that says
Topocentric Houses calculated with Alova correction. In Sirius 1.0 or Kepler 7, first make an empty file
called Topoalov in your Sirius1 directory, open Sirius, and select the same options as above. The house
system name will appear as Alova-Topocentric as in the above wheels.
6.
Charts made using Sirius 1.0, www.astrosoftware.com/sirius.htm. 7.
Makransky, M J, Primary Directions: A Primer of Calculation (1988, Occidental, California: Dear Brutus
Press; out of print, available as pdf download from www.dearbrutus.com/books/ Books Primary
Directions).
8.

List of Figures and Tables
Fig. 1 Up to the Arctic Circles, the Horizon Intersects the Entire Ecliptic
Fig. 2 Some Sections of the Ecliptic Cannot Rise on Some Days
Fig. 3 Graph of Previous and Proposed Topocentric Pole of Ascendant vs. Latitude
Table 1 Poles of Topocentric House Cusps with Proposed Pole of Ascendant
Table 2 Topocentric and Placidus House Cusps with Proposed Pole of Ascendant for 3 h, 50N
Table 3 Topocentric House Cusps with Proposed Pole of Ascendant for 3h, 70N
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