Your rising sign table: sign meets birth hour

How to read the table

1. Find your Sun sign in the left column. The date underneath is the representative day used.
2. Convert your birth time to GMT. A birth at 14:30 BST becomes 13:30 GMT.
3. Read the column for the hour just begun. For 13:30, start at 13:00 and check the marked sign change.
4. Use your actual birth date and place in the calculator for the exact degree.

The table is an approximation for middle northern latitudes. Other birth dates within the same sign and locations far north or south shift the result. Boundary cells are uncertain. Historical births require the time rules used at that place and date.

For present-day summer time, subtract one hour. The representative day always uses standard time in the table.

Three birth chart checks

First we calculate the exact moment at the birthplace. Then we substitute the Sun sign’s 15° representative date while keeping the place and clock time. Obama uses Honolulu and Einstein uses Ulm.

Einstein’s Ulm local mean time is treated as UTC+00:39:56. These checks retain minutes; the main table shows whole hours. With minutes retained, the representative day agrees on the sign in all three cases. Einstein’s 11:00 column initially gives Gemini; the representative day has moved into Cancer by 11:30.

FAQ

How do I calculate my rising sign?

You need your birth date, exact time and birthplace. The ascendant is the zodiac degree on the eastern horizon. This table gives a first estimate from your Sun sign and standard clock hour.

What if I do not know my birth time?

Look for a birth record or use the free day wheel. It shows which rising signs are possible on your birthday. The €9.90 PDF report helps you compare the time windows.

Why is the table approximate?

Each row uses one day with the Sun at 15° of the sign. Your actual date, location and minutes change the ascendant degree. Near a boundary, this can change the sign.

Should I subtract summer time?

Yes. Subtract one hour from a BST birth time to use this GMT table. For historical births, check the local time rules on the birth date.

How often does the rising sign change?

On average, another sign rises about every two hours. Individual signs take different lengths of time at different latitudes. The change times here are calculated.

Are the Sun sign and rising sign the same?

The Sun sign describes the Sun’s position. The rising sign describes the eastern horizon at birth. They can occupy the same zodiac sign.