Ephemeris table
Get the coordinates and speed of planets with equal time steps.
Screenshots show the Ukrainian app interface. The English guide describes the same controls.
What it is and why it matters
The ephemeris show the numerical positions of planets through equal time intervals. Following them you can track movement and check the change of coordinates without opening a separate chart for each day.
When to use it
- To teach coordinate reading and retrograde movement.
- To numerically check or move the sample to a table.
Terms explained
- Ephemeris
- Positions and other parameters of celestial bodies at specified times. Tables show them in rows; graphs show lines of motion.
- Retrograde motion and stations
- Retrograde motion is the apparent backward motion of a planet in longitude. A station is the moment this motion changes direction. The tables use R and S markers.
- UT, UTC and time offset
- Universal time provides a common time basis for calculations. The UTC offset converts local clock time to that basis; do not apply it twice.
Where to find it
The table is “ephemeris”.
How to use it
- Specify period, planets and step from one hour to 30 days.
- Choose the value: longitude, latitude, declination or speed.
- Set the degree format; enable "0h UT" for the rows at the beginning of the world days.
- See R (retrograde), S (station) and the sign changes are highlighted. Export the data you need.
Settings and options
Select an option to learn how it works and when to use it. The label beside its name shows whether it affects calculations, chart appearance or data.
Period: Month / Year / 10 years / CustomCalculation
Time limits where the table or chart is looking for events. Available options depend on the screen.
- What changes
- Earlier/later buttons shift the entire period. Custom enables From and To. A longer period increases the amount of calculation.
- When to use it
- Start with the month for a quick review. To study rare events, expand the range; turn the time zone into the headline.
From / ToData
Beginning and end of the period, in the format of the date interface.
- What changes
- Set search boundaries, not a new date of birth. End should be later than the beginning; wrong boundaries need to be fixed.
- When to use it
- Use it to compare with a particular section of the event journal.
Moving planetsCalculation
Planets of predictive technique, the movement of which is compared to the radis.
- What changes
- The button on enables the planet, the off shuts off. “All” and “No” change the entire set. Moon gives a lot of short contacts.
- When to use it
- For longer cycles, start with slow planets; add Moon to study short intervals.
StepCalculation
The interval between the adjacent rows of the table: 1, 6, 12 hours or 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 30 days.
- What changes
- A smaller step shows more values and requires more calculation. A too large table has a limit on the number of cells.
- When to use it
- For slow movement, just days of step; for Moon and search for near transition, choose a more frequent one.
Quantity: Longitude / Latitude / Declination / SpeedCalculation
What coordinates or its change to show.
- What changes
- Longitude and latitude refer to the ecliptic; declination refers to the equator. Speed is expressed per day. These are different quantities.
- When to use it
- For signs, select longitude; for parallels - declination; for stations - speed.
0h UTCalculation
The grid of moments, bound to 00:00 world time.
- What changes
- On: lines start at midnight UT, like in printed ephemeris; off: local time base of the screen is used.
- When to use it
- Turn on the printed table for the printing. Local 00:00 and 00:00 UT are usually different times.
Format: °′ / °′″ / 0.00°Appearance
Angles of a minute, second or decimal part of a degree.
- What changes
- Only changes record and rounding. R means reverse movement, S is the station; the separation shows the change of the sign.
- When to use it
- For the swirling, do not mix 0.5° from 0°05′: 0.5° is 30′.
The result
Each line will contain a value for one moment.
Worked example
This is a teaching example; results for your chart may differ.
- Situation
- You want to see Mercury slowing down near the station.
- What to do
- Leave Mercury, choose speed and short time step.
- How to read the result
- The change of the speed sign will help to see the transition between straight and retrograde motion.
For professional practice
Choosing coordinates, step and format and exports provide the basis for your own numerical comparisons.
What to check for a precise comparison
Match UT or local time, zodiac and type of coordinate. Line with step to day is not an accurate search for the moment of the event between lines.
Keep in mind
If the program reports too many values, increase the step or shorten the period.