Natal Chart (Latin carta natalis; also birth chart; German Geburtshoroskop; Ancient Greek γενεθλιαλογία, genethlialogia) is a two-dimensional projection of the positions of planets, zodiac signs and houses at the moment of birth.

The main tool. It is the main tool of Western astrology (#1) and Jyotish (#18). Without it no astrological work is possible.

Structure of the Natal Chart

• 10 planets (☉☽♂☿♃♀♄♅♆♇) in 12 zodiac signs — "what" (archetypes)
• 12 houses — "where" (spheres of life): from the 1st (personality) to the 12th (the unconscious)
• Aspects (angular distances between planets) — "how" (dynamics of interactions)
• Key points: Ascendant (AC), Midheaven (MC), Lunar Nodes (☊☋)

Data Required for Calculation

Three mandatory parameters. Calculation of the chart requires three data points:

• Date of birth
• Time of birth
• Place of birth

Precision of time is critical. Precision of time is critical for the Ascendant and houses (1° ≈ 4 minutes). An error of 15 minutes shifts the Ascendant by degrees.

Tropical and Sidereal Zodiac

The West: the vernal point. The Western chart is built in the tropical zodiac (tied to the vernal equinox).

Jyotish: fixed stars. The Vedic chart (Kundali, कुण्डली) is built in the sidereal zodiac (tied to the fixed stars).

Ayanamsa. The difference between them is the Ayanamsa (अयनांश), currently ≈23°50′.