Sidereal Vs Tropical Chart

In astrology, the terms sidereal and tropical refer to two different systems of chart calculation. A sidereal chart is based on the fixed stars and the actual position of the constellations, aligning the zodiac with the visible sky. The term "sidereal" comes from the Latin word "sidus," meaning "star," and in Hebrew, it is translated as צדיאלי (Tzidiali). This system is commonly used in Hindu astrology and is also known as the Niryan system. On the other hand, a tropical chart is based on the seasons and the position of the Sun at the time of the vernal equinox, aligning the zodiac with the seasons rather than the stars. The term "tropical" comes from the Greek word "tropos," meaning "turn." In Spanish, it is translated as tropical, and in French, it is tropical. The tropical zodiac is the most widely used in Western astrology and is also known as the Sayana system. The key difference between the two systems lies in the ayananoms, the approximate 23-degree discrepancy caused by the precession of the equinoxes, which shifts the constellations over time. This discrepancy means that the signs in a sidereal chart may differ from those in a tropical chart for the same birth date.