Astrology is the forerunner of modern day Astronomy, and it is for that reason that any serious astrologer would learn a few astronomical principles to help him to progress in his art, because the circumstances surrounding the physical characteristics of the planets give us a greater understanding as to why the planets in our solar system operate as they do.

The Great Star Debate

About ten to twelve thousand years ago some disaster of a major proportion occurred on Earth. Ancient texts from all cultures discuss an event that transformed the Earth. In the Western world, this event is told in the story of the biblical Great Flood.

Ancient texts speak of a Golden Age where man suffered no disease and lived for up to a thousand years, which some attributed to the belief that our present solar system in aeons past actually existed of a binary pair instead of a single star. This theory is justified by the fact that the word ‘disaster’ actually means ‘no star’, and the word ‘catastrophe’ means fall of a star’.

It is postulated that about ten thousand years ago (which is commonly agreed throughout the world that something of magnificent proportions occurred on the Earth), there were two suns in our solar system, which gave illumination to the Earth twenty-four hours a day. The Earth had an atmosphere similar to Venus, which kept many of the degenerative diseases we know today at bay. It is also believed that at this time the civilisations of Atlantis and Lemuria were in their prime. It is believed that the second star, Phaeton, exploded , leaving behind our single Sun, called Sol. This explosion is said to have dislodged Lilith, the Earth’s first moon, which consequently was shoved into the Earth, destroyed the civilisations of Atlantis and Lemuria, and forced the Earth to tilt on its axis. This great celestial explosion is said to have taken place at 19 degrees Scorpio, which is a very difficult sign, with or without calamities.

In addition to the Double Star Theory, some believe that in times past the Earth had two visible moons. Legend has it that our first moon, Lilith, was much smaller than our present moon, Luna. Even the Old Testament in the Bible suggests that there was originally one moon, then two, then one again.

The Constellations

Constellations are groups of stars that form a certain pattern as seen from the Earth. Many of the constellations that we know today are of antiquity and have deep psychological and archetypal meanings.

The zodiac by which we form our system of astrology is comprised of twelve constellations, which are all close to the Earth’s path around the Sun. The zodiac was originally comprised of all animals, to include some humans. Libra, the scales, was added later by carving out stars from the constellation of Scorpio by Julius Caesar in an attempt to improve upon the calendar. It is also said that the original Scorpio may have actually been from the constellations of Virgo, Libra and Scorpio in even earlier times because the stars in these three constellations form a path similar to that of a serpent.

The Planets

The Sun is currently the only star in our solar system. The Sun produces all of the light and heat essential for life on Earth, and is composed primarily of gases. Studies indicate that disturbances on the Sun actually affect our weather patterns here on Earth.

At present we have only one major satellite that orbits our Earth. Myth tells of a time when another smaller planet, Lilith, orbited our Earth. Ancient Hebrew texts speak of Adam’s first wife being Lilith, and when he tired of her because she would not be subservient to him, he cast her aside in favour of Eve. Although many perceive biblical characters as persons, it is not unreasonable to suggest that because these stories arise from antiquity, the characters could represent planetary events instead of people.

The Bible also suggests that in former time there was one moon, Lilith, then two, Lilith and Luna, and then one again, Luna. This quite likely relates to the cataclysm that occurred some twelve thousand years ago. It is believed that the gravitational effects of this event pushed the much smaller satellite into the Earth’s atmosphere to dramatically create what is now known as the Pacific Ocean. This premise is justified by the fact that the Pacific Ocean is much deeper and larger than the Atlantic Ocean.

Some also theorise that our present moon should not be in our orbital path at all, as it is too large and does not contain any materials common to Earth. In addition, astronomers today have ascertained that the Moon is actually moving away from the Earth in minute distances every year. One day the Moon will slip away from the gravitational pull of the Earth altogether, leaving us with no satellite at all.

One theory of is that the Moons origin is that it was formed as a result of the collision of an object some 6,500 kilometres in diameter with the Earth some time during the early history of our solar system. It is believed that the object stayed with the Earth while the rocky debris orbited to eventually form the Moon.

The Moon’s rotational and orbital periods are exactly identical. Mercury is the Sun’s closest satellite. It rotates around the Sun in 88 day and has an axial rotation of 58 to 65 days. There are approximately three Mercurian days for each Mercurian year.

Venus is the second closest planet to the Sun. This planet is referred to as the ‘morning star’ because it is visible at both dawn and dusk. It is the brightest planet because dense clouds completely cover it. Venus has a very high surface temperature, which is something of a ‘greenhouse effect’ in that heat can enter into the planet’s atmosphere but is unable to escape, thus giving it a temperature of about 450 degrees centigrade. Venus orbits the Sun in 255 days, and one Venusian day is about equal to one Venusian year.

Mars is about the size of Earth and orbits the Sun approximately every two years. This planet is the fourth planet from the Sun and is red in colour.

Jupiter is 317 times the size of the Earth. It has a very fast axial rotation, so one ‘day’ is equivalent to ten Earth hours. Jupiter has sixteen known satellites and has its own ring system as well. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and its gaseous state makes it almost a small star. Recent research into this planet indicates that any objects orbiting the solar system seem to be caught up into Jupiter’s gravitational pull where they are sucked up and evaporate into the planet’s atmosphere. This is said to be a good thing, as otherwise Earth would continuously be bombarded with debris from outer-space.

Saturn is the sixth planet from the solar system and in ancient times was considered to be the last planet, or the outer limit of our world. Saturday, the last day of the week, was named after this planet. Although evidence suggests that the ancients were actually aware that there were in fact planetary objects further than Saturn, our seven day week is believed to have been based on the seven primary celestial bodies, Saturn being the last that orbited our solar system. Because for the last couple of thousand years Saturn was considered the outer limits of our universe, in astrology has been considered the planet that gives us our limits, restrictions and lessons.

Saturn has a very rapid axial rotation, so one ‘day’ is about ten Earth hours, but it takes about thirty years for Saturn to orbit the Sun. Saturn has about eighteen known satellites and is similar in may ways to Jupiter with regard to its composition, as it is a gaseous planet.

Uranus is another gas giant in our solar system. It has a very fast axial rotation, so one ‘day’ is about eighteen Earth hours, but one Uranian ‘year’ is about 84 Earth years. Uranus has fifteen known satellites. In astronomy, Uranus was the first planet to have been re-discovered telescopically by an amateur astronomer in 1781. Uranus is blue-green in colour and has its own ring system that is vertical, as opposed to the other planet’s horizontal rings.

Neptune is the eighth planet from the Earth and is the last of the great gas giants. It has a rapid axial rotation, so one Neptunium day is about nineteen hours, and it orbits the Sun in about 165 years. Neptune has eight known satellites and its ring system is likely held in place by two shepherd satellites, which have not yet been discovered.

Pluto’s rediscovery was mathematically calculated and found based upon a discrepancy in Neptune’s orbit. This small planetoid is about 1/50th the size of Earth, and one Plutonian day is the equivalent to six Earth days. One Plutonian year is about 249 Earth years.

Pluto has one known satellite, Charon, which behaves more like a double planet than a satellite because the two bodies orbit around each other with the centre of gravity in space between the two. Both planets have a density two thirds that of water, so it is estimated that they are made of frozen methane and a rocky material.