How the six event types are dated Open method guide
This guide keeps shared calculation facts and limits in one place. The date cards below stay focused on meaning and action.
Moon phases
How the date is found: We measure the angle between the Sun and Moon and assign the nearest daily UTC date.
Important limit: The exact phase may fall on a different local date. A phase does not set anyone's mood.
Sign changes
How the date is found: We compare each body's Western-zodiac sign at noon UTC on two days and record where the sign changes.
Important limit: The exact move may happen earlier or later that day. The change is shared timing, not a personal prediction.
Direction changes
How the date is found: We compare a planet's apparent movement on two daily checks and record where it switches between retrograde and direct.
Important limit: A direction change does not make normal decisions automatically fail or succeed.
Eclipses
How the date is found: An astronomy calculation supplies the global peak date. Local visibility depends on location and horizon conditions.
Important limit: Use a local visibility map. Certified eye protection is required for direct solar viewing.
Major aspects
How the date is found: We find the closest daily check to five common angles between two planets, within 1.25 degrees of exact.
Important limit: The pattern is shared by everyone. It becomes personal only when compared with a birth chart.
Meteor showers
How the date is found: We use the established yearly peak date as a planning marker for each shower.
Important limit: Visible rates still depend on location, weather, moonlight, and the hours you observe.