Orbs Basics & How to Set Orbs
An orb is the tolerance around an exact aspect angle (e.g., 120° for a trine) within which the aspect is considered operative. Orbs give you a practical way to weight hits by closeness and to manage chart “noise.” In your app, orbs pair with the applying/separating indicator and an “orb badge” so you can judge strength at a glance.
Typical orb ranges (guideline)
- ☌ Conjunction (0°): up to ~8° for luminaries; ~6° for others.
- ⚹ Sextile (60°): ~3–4°.
- △ Trine (120°): ~5–6°.
- □ Square (90°): ~4–6°.
- ☍ Opposition (180°): ~6–8°.
These are starting points; traditions vary. Tighten or relax orbs depending on planets involved, transit vs. natal, and your analytical goals.
Applying vs. separating & why it matters
A hit is applying when the faster planet is moving toward exactness. Applying aspects usually carry more immediacy. Separating aspects are felt as after‑effects. Combining direction with orb helps you prioritize which aspects deserve attention first.
Practical setup tips
- Start with defaults (like the ranges above) and review the chart’s density. If there are too many weak hits, tighten orbs by 0.5–1.0°.
- Use tiered orbs: wider for luminaries and major aspects, tighter for minors or for fast‑moving transits.
- Context matters: for forecasting, prioritize tight, applying hits to personal points (ASC/MC/IC/DSC, Sun/Moon).