Solar Return and Lunar Return Chart

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precession corrected solar return

Precession-corrected solar return

Under Calculation options, the Type of return field switches between Tropical and Precession corrected. The default is tropical, and the difference grows with age.

Two definitions of a full return of the Sun

The tropical zodiac is measured from the March equinox, a point that slowly slides among the stars because of the precession of the equinoxes, about 50.29 arcseconds per year. When the Sun returns to the same tropical longitude, it has completed a tropical year of 365.2422 days, but it has not yet returned exactly to the same point among the fixed stars. To get there, the target must be moved by the accumulated precession, which adds 365.2564 − 365.2422 = 0.0142 day, about 20 minutes, for each year of age. This is the definition of the precession-corrected solar return, also called sidereal by those who use that logic.
The tool applies the correction like this: the Sun target becomes the natal longitude plus the general precession between birth and the return, using the IAU 2006 formula, and the moment is recomputed twice because the target depends on the date itself. The nutation difference between the two dates, a few minutes, is not corrected. In the example birth, the delay is 21 minutes at 1 year old, 3.5 hours at 10, 7 hours at 20, 11.1 hours at 32, 17.4 hours at 50 and 20.9 hours at 60, an average of 20.9 minutes per year.
Which one to pick? Most programs and Western traditions use the tropical return, which is why it is the default here. The precession-corrected one is a choice for those who work with reference to the fixed stars. There is no scientific consensus on which has more value, and the tool takes no side: it shows the time of each, and you can compare the two charts by switching the option.

Delay of the corrected variant (born May 17, 1994)

At age 1 (1995)

Input: ano 1995
Expected output: +0,35 h

About 21 minutes.

At age 10 (2004)

Input: ano 2004
Expected output: +3,48 h

About 20.9 minutes per year.

At age 32 (2026)

Input: ano 2026
Expected output: 11:22:15 → 22:30:01 UTC

A delay of 11.1 hours.

At age 50 (2044)

Input: ano 2044
Expected output: +17,40 h

Almost a full day by age 70.

In the birth year

Input: ano 1994
Expected output: 0 h

With no accumulated precession, the two coincide.

Full tool FAQ

What is a solar return?

It is the astrological chart of the moment the Sun comes back exactly to the position it held at your birth. It happens once a year, near your birthday, and the chart is read as the theme of the period until the next birthday. It is a symbolic technique of astrology, with no scientific evidence that it predicts events.

How is the exact moment calculated?

Why is the birth time required?

Which city should I use?

What is the precession-corrected return?

What are angular planets and which orb is used?

Which house system does the tool use?

What is a lunar return and how many happen per year?

Does the solar return predict what will happen in the year?

Is my data sent to a server?

Frequently asked questions

Does the corrected return change the planet signs?

No. The signs remain tropical. The correction only changes the chosen instant, and as a consequence the Ascendant, the houses and the Moon position, which moves quite a bit in 11 hours.

Is it the same as a Vedic sidereal chart?

No. This variant only shifts the moment of the return. Vedic sidereal astrology also changes the zodiac, subtracting the ayanamsa from every position, which this tool does not do.

Do other programs give the same time as the tool variant?

It could not be confirmed. The definition here is the one described above, and different programs may pick another precession constant or ignore nutation. Expect differences of a few minutes.

Next steps

Two definitions of a full return of the Sun

The tropical zodiac is measured from the March equinox, a point that slowly slides among the stars because of the precession of the equinoxes, about 50.29 arcseconds per year. When the Sun returns to the same tropical longitude, it has completed a tropical year of 365.2422 days, but it has not yet returned exactly to the same point among the fixed stars. To get there, the target must be moved by the accumulated precession, which adds 365.2564 − 365.2422 = 0.0142 day, about 20 minutes, for each year of age. This is the definition of the precession-corrected solar return, also called sidereal by those who use that logic.

The tool applies the correction like this: the Sun target becomes the natal longitude plus the general precession between birth and the return, using the IAU 2006 formula, and the moment is recomputed twice because the target depends on the date itself. The nutation difference between the two dates, a few minutes, is not corrected. In the example birth, the delay is 21 minutes at 1 year old, 3.5 hours at 10, 7 hours at 20, 11.1 hours at 32, 17.4 hours at 50 and 20.9 hours at 60, an average of 20.9 minutes per year.

Which one to pick? Most programs and Western traditions use the tropical return, which is why it is the default here. The precession-corrected one is a choice for those who work with reference to the fixed stars. There is no scientific consensus on which has more value, and the tool takes no side: it shows the time of each, and you can compare the two charts by switching the option.

Delay of the corrected variant (born May 17, 1994)

At age 1 (1995)

Input: ano 1995
Expected output: +0,35 h

About 21 minutes.

At age 10 (2004)

Input: ano 2004
Expected output: +3,48 h

About 20.9 minutes per year.

At age 32 (2026)

Input: ano 2026
Expected output: 11:22:15 → 22:30:01 UTC

A delay of 11.1 hours.

At age 50 (2044)

Input: ano 2044
Expected output: +17,40 h

Almost a full day by age 70.

In the birth year

Input: ano 1994
Expected output: 0 h

With no accumulated precession, the two coincide.

Full tool FAQ

What is a solar return?

How is the exact moment calculated?

Why is the birth time required?

Which city should I use?

What is the precession-corrected return?

What are angular planets and which orb is used?

Which house system does the tool use?

What is a lunar return and how many happen per year?

Does the solar return predict what will happen in the year?

Is my data sent to a server?

Frequently asked questions

Does the corrected return change the planet signs?

No. The signs remain tropical. The correction only changes the chosen instant, and as a consequence the Ascendant, the houses and the Moon position, which moves quite a bit in 11 hours.

Is it the same as a Vedic sidereal chart?

No. This variant only shifts the moment of the return. Vedic sidereal astrology also changes the zodiac, subtracting the ayanamsa from every position, which this tool does not do.

Do other programs give the same time as the tool variant?

It could not be confirmed. The definition here is the one described above, and different programs may pick another precession constant or ignore nutation. Expect differences of a few minutes.