No. They describe tension, which is often where meaningful growth happens.

Do aspects need a birth time?

Mostly not, except aspects involving the Moon, which moves quickly, or the Ascendant and Midheaven.

What about minor aspects?

Soul Atlas focuses on the five major aspects used in nearly every tradition.

Astrology basics

Astrology Aspects Explained: Conjunctions to Oppositions

Aspects are the conversations between the planets in your chart. They're measured as angles around the zodiac, and they add a great deal of depth: two people with the same signs can have very different aspects. Here are the five major ones.

By Soul AtlasPublished October 30, 2026 3 min read

The five major aspects

Conjunction (0°): planets together, their themes blended and intensified.
Sextile (60°): an easy, opportunity-giving link that rewards effort.
Square (90°): productive friction, tension that asks for growth.
Trine (120°): natural flow and ease between two themes.
Opposition (180°): a pull between two sides, often worked out through relationships and balance.

Orbs: how close is close enough

Planets rarely sit at an exact angle, so astrologers allow an orb, a tolerance either side. Soul Atlas uses 7° for conjunctions and oppositions, 6° for squares and trines, and 4° for sextiles, measured between the planets themselves. The smaller the orb, the stronger the aspect is usually read.

No aspect is simply good or bad

Older astrology called squares and oppositions hard and trines easy. Many modern astrologers point out that hard aspects often describe the areas where people grow the most, while easy aspects can describe talents that are taken for granted. It's more useful to ask what each aspect asks of you.

Where to start

Begin with the aspects to your Sun, Moon and chart ruler, and with the tightest aspects in your chart, those with the smallest orbs. Write one sentence for each, combining the two planets' themes, and notice which ones you recognise.

Common questions

What orbs does Soul Atlas use?: 7° for conjunctions and oppositions, 6° for squares and trines and 4° for sextiles.
Are squares bad?: No. They describe tension, which is often where meaningful growth happens.
Do aspects need a birth time?: Mostly not, except aspects involving the Moon, which moves quickly, or the Ascendant and Midheaven.
What about minor aspects?: Soul Atlas focuses on the five major aspects used in nearly every tradition.

Astrology, numerology, Human Design and Kabbalah are symbolic traditions, offered here for reflection and entertainment. Nothing in this guide is a prediction or medical, legal or financial advice. Dates are calculated from planetary positions and given in UTC.

The Weekly Sky

Stay in touch with the sky, one Monday at a time.

A short, free letter each Monday: the Moon's phases and daily signs, planets changing sign or turning retrograde, and the week's numbers, with what they traditionally invite you to reflect on. No account or chart needed.