<P> In common usage, horoscope often refers to an astrologer's interpretation, usually based on a system of solar Sun sign astrology; based strictly on the position of the Sun at the time of birth, or on the calendar significance of an event, as in Chinese astrology . In particular, many newspapers and magazines carry predictive columns, written in prose that may be written more for increasing readership than tied directly to the Sun or other aspects of the solar system, allegedly based on celestial influences in relation to the zodiacal placement of the Sun on the month of birth, cusp (2 days before or after any particular sign, an overlap), or decante (the month divided into 3 ten - day periods) of the person's month of birth, identifying the individual's Sun sign or "star sign" based on the tropical zodiac . </P> <P> No scientific studies have shown support for the accuracy of horoscopes, and the methods used to make interpretations are pseudo-scientific . In modern scientific framework no known interaction exists that could be responsible for the transmission of the alleged influence between a person and the position of stars in the sky at the moment of birth . In all tests completed, keeping strict methods to include a control group and proper blinding between experimenters and subjects, horoscopes have shown no effect beyond pure chance . Furthermore, some psychological tests have shown that it is possible to construct personality descriptions and foretelling generic enough to satisfy most members of a large audience simultaneously, referred to as the Forer or Barnum effect . </P> <P> The horoscope serves as a stylized map of the heavens over a specific location at a particular moment in time . In most applications the perspective is geocentric (heliocentric astrology being one exception). The positions of the actual planets (including Sun and Moon) are placed in the chart, along with those of purely calculated factors such as the lunar nodes, the house cusps including the midheaven and the ascendant, zodiac signs, fixed stars and the lots . Angular relationships between the planets themselves and other points, called aspects, are typically determined . The emphasis and interpretation of these factors varies with tradition . </P> <P> The Sanskrit term for horo is hora (होरा). Horo - scope is hora - shastra (होरा - शास्त्र). The Latin word horoscopus, ultimately from Greek ὡρόσκοπος "nativity, horoscope", literally "observer of the hour (of birth)", from ὥρα "time, hour" and σκόπος "observer, watcher". In Middle English texts from the 11th century, the word appears in the Latin form and is anglicized to horoscope in Early Modern English . The noun horoscopy for "casting of horoscopes" has been in use since the 17th century (OED). In Greek, ὡρόσκοπος in the sense of "ascendant" and ὡροσκοπία "observation of the ascendant" is in use since Ptolemy (Tetrabiblos 33, 75). </P>

What is my horoscope and what does it mean