The seven
classical planets are those easily seen with the naked eye, and were thus known to ancient astrologers. They are the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Sometimes, the Sun and Moon were referred to as "the lights" or the "
luminaries".
Vesta and
Uranus can also just be seen with the naked eye, though no ancient culture appears to have taken note of them. The classical planets fit neatly into the theories of
Aristotle and
Ptolemy, with each being part of a
Celestial sphere. The order of the classical planets is determined by the speed. The Moon moves the fastest and so is considered to form the first celestial sphere above Earth. Everything below the Moon is part of the
sublunary sphere. Mercury moves the second fastest and so rules the next highest sphere. Next is Venus, which takes about 260 days to revolve around the Sun. Following that is the Sun, then Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The astrological descriptions attached to the seven classical planets have been preserved since ancient times. Astrologers call the seven classical planets "the seven personal and social planets", because they are said to represent the basic human drives of every individual. The personal planets are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars. The social or transpersonal planets are Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter and Saturn are often called the first of the "transpersonal" or "transcendent" planets as they represent a transition from the inner personal planets to the outer modern, impersonal planets. The following is a list of the planets and their associated characteristics.
Sun The
Sun () is the ruling planet of
Leo ♌️ and is exalted in
Aries ♈️. In classical Greek mythology, the Sun was represented by the
Titans Hyperion and
Helios (Roman
Sol, and later by
Apollo or
Helios, the god of light). The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System, around which the Earth and other planets revolve and provides us with heat and light. The arc that the Sun travels in every year, rising and setting in a slightly different place each day, is therefore in reality a reflection of the Earth's own orbit around the Sun. This arc is larger the farther north or south from the equator latitude, giving a more extreme difference between day and night and between seasons during the year. The Sun travels through the twelve signs of the zodiac on its annual journey, spending about a month in each. The Sun's position on a person's birthday therefore determines what is usually called their "sun" sign. However, the sun sign allotment varies between Western (sign change around 22-23 of every month) and Hindu astrology (sign change around 14-15 of every month) due to the different systems of planetary calculations, following the
tropical and
sidereal definitions respectively. , the star at the center of the
Solar System In astrology, the Sun is usually thought to represent the conscious
ego, the
self and its expression, personal power, pride and authority, leadership qualities and the principles of creativity, spontaneity, health and vitality, the sum of which is named the "life force". One of the first recorded references to Sun worship is from the
Mesopotamian Religion and described in the
Epic of Gilgamesh. The 1st-century poet
Marcus Manilius in his epic, 8000-verse poem,
Astronomica, described the
Sun, or
Sol, as benign and favorable. In medicine, the Sun is associated with the heart, circulatory system, and the thymus. Additionally, humans depend on the sun to produce and obtain
vitamin D; an important supplement aiding the body's immune system and bone health. In
Ayurveda, it rules over life-force (
praan-shakti), governs bile temperament (
pitta), stomach, bones and eyes. In modern astrology, the Sun is the primary native ruler of the fifth house, but traditionally it had its joy in the ninth house. The Sun sign is composed of 30 degrees (0-29), which make up the circle. The Sun rules over Sunday.
Dante Alighieri associated the Sun with the
liberal art of music. In
Chinese astrology, the Sun represents
Yang, the active, assertive masculine life principle.
Moon )'', on the
Parabiago plate (2nd–5th centuries AD) The
Moon () is the ruling planet of
Cancer♋️ and is exalted in
Taurus ♉️. In classical Roman mythology, the Moon was
Luna, at times identified with
Diana (Artemis and Selene in Greek Mythology). The Moon is large enough for its gravity to affect the Earth, stabilizing its orbit and producing the regular ebb and flow of the tides. The
lunar day syncs up with its orbit around Earth in such a manner that the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth and the other side, known as the "
far side of the Moon" faces toward space. In astrology, the Moon is associated with a person's intuition, emotions,
unconscious habits, rhythms, memories, moods, instincts and their ability to react and adapt to those around them. It is associated for some with the mother or the urge to nurture, the home, the need for security and the past, especially early experiences and childhood. The 1st-century poet Manilius described the Moon, or
Luna, as melancholic. In medicine, the Moon is associated with the digestive system, stomach, breasts, the ovaries and menstruation (which occurs on a monthly cycle) and the pancreas. Despite Manilius's assignment, the Moon is more commonly associated with the
phlegmatic humor; it ruled the animal spirits. In modern astrology, the Moon is the primary native ruler of the fourth house, but traditionally it had its joy in the third house. The Moon or
Luna is associated with Monday, the word Monday comes from the Old English word for Moon day or Moon's day, and in Romance languages, the name for Monday comes from
luna (e.g.,
luni in Romanian,
lundi in French,
lunes in Spanish and
lunedi in Italian). Dante Alighieri associated the Moon with the liberal art of
grammar. In
Chinese astrology, the Moon represents
Yin, the passive and receptive feminine life principle. In
Indian astrology, the Moon is called
Chandra or
Soma and represents the mind, queenship and mother.
Mercury Mercury () is the ruling planet of
Gemini ♊️ and
Virgo ♍️ and is exalted in
Virgo ♍️. In classical Roman mythology,
Mercury is the messenger of the gods, noted for his speed and swiftness. In astrology, Mercury represents the principles of communication, mentality, thinking patterns, rationality/reasoning, adaptability and variability. Mercury governs schooling and education, the immediate environment of neighbors, siblings and cousins, transport over short distances, messages and forms of communication such as post, email and telephone, newspapers, journalism and writing, information gathering skills and physical dexterity. The 1st-century poet
Marcus Manilius described Mercury as an inconstant, vivacious and curious planet. In medicine, Mercury is associated with the nervous system, the brain, the respiratory system, the thyroid and the sense organs. It is traditionally held to be essentially cold and dry, according to its placement in the zodiac and in any aspects to other planets. In modern astrology, Mercury is regarded as the ruler of the third house; traditionally, it had the joy in the first house. Mercury is the messenger of the gods in mythology. It is the planet of day-to-day expression and relationships. Mercury's action is to take things apart and put them back together again. It is an opportunistic planet, decidedly unemotional and curious. In Chinese astrology, Mercury represents
water, the fourth element.
Venus ,
Wales Venus () is the ruling planet of
Libra ♎️ and
Taurus ♉️ and is exalted in
Pisces ♓️. In classical Roman mythology,
Venus is the goddess of love and beauty, famous for the passions she could stir among the gods. Her cults may represent the religiously legitimate charm and seduction of the divine by mortals, in contrast to the formal, contractual relations between most members of Rome's official pantheon and the state, and the unofficial, illicit manipulation of divine forces through magic. Venus orbits the Sun in 225 days, spending about 18.75 days in each sign of the zodiac. Venus is the second-brightest object in the night sky, the Moon being the brightest. It is usually beheld as a twin planet to Earth. In astrology, Venus is associated with the principles of harmony, femininity, the female principle and beginning, the maiden and the female body, beauty, refinement, affections, love, and the urge to sympathize and unite with others. It is involved with the desire for pleasure, comfort and ease. It governs romantic relations, sex (the origin of the words 'venery' and 'venereal'), marriage and business partnerships, the arts and fashion. The 1st-century poet Marcus Manilius described Venus as generous and fecund and the lesser
benefic. The planet
Venus in medicine is associated with the reproductive system, lumbar region, the veins, parathyroids, throat and kidneys. Venus was thought to be moderately warm and moist and associated with the
phlegmatic humor. Venus rules over Friday and is the ruler of second house. In languages deriving from Latin, such as Romanian, Spanish, French, and Italian, the word for Friday often resembles the word Venus (
vineri,
viernes,
vendredi and
venerdì respectively). Dante Alighieri associated Venus with the liberal art of
rhetoric.
Mars (Walters Art Museum) Mars () is the ruling planet of
Aries ♈️, the traditional ruling planet of
Scorpio ♏️, and is exalted in
Capricorn ♑️.
Mars is the Roman god of war and bloodshed, whose symbol is a spear and shield. Both the soil of Mars and the hemoglobin of human blood are rich in iron and because of this they share its distinct deep red color. He was second in importance only to Jupiter and Saturn, due to Mars being the most prominent of the military gods worshipped by the Roman legions. Mars orbits the Sun in 687 days, spending about 57.25 days in each sign of the zodiac. It is also the first planet that orbits outside of Earth's orbit, making it the first planet that does not set along with the Sun. Mars has two permanent polar ice caps. During a pole's winter, it lies in continuous darkness, chilling the surface and causing the deposition of 25–30% of the atmosphere into slabs of CO2 ice (dry ice). In astrology, Mars is associated with aggression, confrontation, masculinity, the male body, the warrior, the man, courage, energy, strength, ambition and impulsiveness. Mars governs sports, competitions and physical activities in general. The 1st-century poet Manilius, described the planet as ardent and as the lesser
malefic. In medicine, Mars presides over the
genitals, head, the muscular system, the gonads and adrenal glands. It was traditionally held to be hot and excessively dry and rules the
choleric humor. It was associated with fever, accidents,
trauma, pain and surgery. |112x112px In modern astrology, Mars is the primary native ruler of the first house. Traditionally however, Mars ruled both the third and tenth houses, and had its joy in the sixth house. While Venus tends to the overall relationship atmosphere, Mars is the passionate impulse and action, the masculine aspect, discipline, willpower and stamina. Mars rules over Tuesday and in Romance languages the word for Tuesday often resembles Mars (in Romanian,
marți, in Spanish,
martes, in French,
mardi, and in Italian,
martedì). The English "Tuesday" is a modernised form of "Tîw's Day", Tîw being the Old English analogue to Mars (and to Tyr of Norse mythology). Dante Alighieri associated Mars with the liberal art of
arithmetic. In Chinese astrology, Mars is ruled by the element
fire, which is passionate, energetic and adventurous.
Hindu astrology includes Mars (
Mangala) in the concept of
Nakshatra,
Navagraha, and
Saptarishi.
Jupiter by
Johannes Regiomontanus, 1512)
Jupiter () is the traditional ruling planet of
Sagittarius ♐️ and
Pisces ♓️. It is exalted in
Cancer ♋️. In classical Roman mythology,
Jupiter is the sky god, ruler of the gods, and their guardian and protector; his symbol is the thunderbolt. The Romans believed that Jupiter granted them supremacy because they had honored him more than any other people had. Jupiter was "the fount of the auspices upon which the relationship of the city with the gods rested." He personified the divine authority of Rome's highest offices, internal organization, and external relations. His image in the Republican and Imperial Capitol bore regalia associated with Rome's ancient kings and the highest consular and Imperial honours. In the same way, the planet Jupiter is the king of the other planets, a giant in size with spectacular, brightly colored clouds and intense storms. It plays an important protecting role in using its massive gravity to capture or expel from the solar system many comets and
asteroids that would otherwise threaten Earth and the inner planets. Jupiter takes 11.9 years to orbit the Sun, spending almost an earth year (361 days) in each sign of the zodiac. Furthermore, Jupiter is usually the fourth-brightest object in the sky (after the Sun, the Moon and Venus). Sagittarius is home to colossal
red supergiants such as
KW Sagittarii,
VX Sagittarii, and
GCIRS 7, all of which are roughly the size of Jupiter's orbit. In astrology, Jupiter is associated with the principles of growth, expansion, adventures, healing, prosperity, good fortune, and miracles. Jupiter governs long distance and foreign travel, big business and wealth, higher education, religion, and the law. It is also associated with the urge for freedom and exploration, as well with gambling and merrymaking. The 1st-century poet Manilius described Jupiter as temperate and benign, and the greater
benefic. It was regarded as warm and moist in nature, and therefore favorable to life. In medicine, Jupiter is associated with the liver, pituitary gland, and the disposition of fats; it governs the
sanguine humor. In modern astrology, Jupiter is the primary native ruler of the ninth house, but traditionally, Jupiter was assigned to both the second and ninth houses: the house of values and the house of beliefs, respectively, and had its joy in the second house of good luck. Jupiter rules over Thursday, and in Romance languages, the name for Thursday often comes from Jupiter (e.g.,
joi in Romanian,
jeudi in French,
jueves in Spanish, and
giovedì in Italian). Dante Alighieri associated Jupiter with the liberal art of
geometry. In Chinese astrology, Jupiter is ruled by the element
wood, which is patient, hard-working, and reliable. In
Indian astrology, Jupiter is known as
Guru or
Brihaspati and is known as the 'great teacher'.
Saturn Saturn () is the traditional ruling planet of
Capricorn ♑️ and
Aquarius ♒️ and is exalted in
Libra ♎️. In classical Roman mythology,
Saturn is the god of seeds, crops, husbandry, and the harvest (agriculture), leader of the titans, father and founder of civilizations, social order, and conformity. The glyph is shaped like a scythe, but it is known as the "crescent below the cross", whereas Jupiter's glyph is the "crescent above the cross". Famous rings of the planet Saturn that enclose and surround it, reflect the idea of human limits. Saturn takes 29.5 years to orbit the Sun, spending about 2.46 years in each sign of the zodiac. During ancient Roman society, the Romans worshipped
Saturn as the highest ranking and most important god among their pantheon of deities, sharing that same prestige with Jupiter. In astrology,
Saturn is associated with focus, precision, nobility, ethics, the father, civility, lofty goals, career, great achievements, dedication, authority figures, stability, virtues, productiveness, valuable hard lessons learned, destiny, structures, protective roles, balance, meritocracy, conservatism, and karma (reaping what you have sown or cosmic justice) but with limitations, restrictions, boundaries, anxiety, tests, practicality, reality, and time. It concerns a person's sense of duty, commitment, responsibility, including their physical and emotional endurance in times of hardships. Saturn is fundamentally economical. It also represents concern with long-term planning or foresight.
The Return of Saturn is said to mark significant events in each person's life. According to the 1st-century poet Manilius, Saturn is sad, morose, and cold, and is the greater
malefic. Claudius Ptolemy states that "Saturn is lord of the right ear, the spleen, the bladder, the phlegm, and the bones." Saturn symbolized processes and things that were dry and cold, which are necessary balancing aspects to maintain life. It governs the
melancholic humor. According to Sefer Yetzirah – GRA Version – Kaplan 4:13 "He made the letter Resh king over Peace And He bound a crown to it And He combined one with another And with them He formed
Saturn in the Universe Friday in the Year The left nostril in the Soul, male and female." Western astrology appraises Saturn as the primary native ruler of the tenth house. In traditional Hindu astrology however, Saturn ruled both the first and eighth houses, and had its joy in the twelfth house of mischief and bad luck. Saturn rules over Saturday, which was named after the deity Saturn. Dante Alighieri associated Saturn with the liberal art of
astronomia (astronomy and astrology). In Chinese astrology, Saturn is ruled by the element
earth. In
Indian astrology, Saturn is called
Shani or "Sani", representing a noteworthy career and longevity. He is also the bringer of obstacles and hardship. ==Major planets discovered in the modern era==