The “ascendant” (or “rising sign” — these terms are used interchangeably) refers to the sign that is “rising” or on the Eastern horizon at the time of birth.
It sets up the rest of the astrological house structure — the 12 sectors that correlate to important life areas — and determine where the planets and other points fall in a natal chart.
This is why knowing the exact moment of birth is so important to astrologers. Most predictive work relies more heavily on houses (which are again determined by the birth time and thus the ascendant) than most lay people realize.
Even weekly horoscopes and monthly forecasts are written more from the perspective of rising signs than Sun signs.
Scroll down for the Rising Sign Calculator. Or use the table below for for an approximate representation based on the 12 Sun signs. If your birth time is “iffy” this may help you to determine your rising sign (ascendant). However it’s far from precise and we can’t stress enough the importance of learning your exact birth time if you want an accurate astrological interpretation.
To find your rising sign using this table, locate your Sun sign in the left column and your approximate birth time in the top row. For example, an Aries Sun person born at 2:20 am would — according to this table — have a Pisces ascendant. A Capricorn Sun sign person born at 12:06 pm would have Taurus rising. And so on.
If you’re looking for a book on this subject, The Ascendant by Jodie Forrest is excellent!
Now looking at the table below, see if you can locate your rising sign, even if you know your exact birth time. You’ll be able to check it against the calculator at the bottom of this page as well. The Symbols for each sign are listed in the right column.
If you do know your exact birth time, you can find your ascendant instantly using the ascendant calculator tool below. But first let’s look at what rising signs are and how they apply to you.
The rising sign represents your instinctive approach to life. It’s what people see when they first meet you and how they might describe you to others. It’s your personality and how you present yourself to the world. This also applies to physical characteristics and limitations.
The ascendant — or rising sign — also sets up the entire natal chart structure, which includes houses (life departments) and what are called rulerships. It also tells you where each of the planets in your natal chart fall (which house they fall in and which house they rule). As you can imagine, having this information is critical for getting the full picture as far as not only who you are, but also information about your relationships, career, finances, family, health and so on.
Let’s look at a brief snapshot of each of the 12 rising signs:
Aries: Aries rising people present themselves as warm, dynamic, assertive and competitive. They’re movers and shakers, throwing themselves eagerly into new ventures that don’t require a lot of forethought and planning. They can be impatient and can lose steam if something becomes tedious or boring. They’re gung-ho about diving into something new and fresh but not so good about tying up loose ends. They’re drawn to that which is new and exciting — anything that challenges them to push past their fears. They tend to act first and think later, relying on their natural instincts, which are generally very good. As Mars is the ruler or Aries, this is further defined by the sign and house placement of their natal Mars.
Taurus rising people tend to be more slow moving. They’re earthy, practical and sensuous, preferring comfort over extravagance and quality over quantity. They like to take their time easing into things — and that includes relationships. They can be infinitely patient and willing to bide their time rather than rushing in head first. They can be hedonistic and self-indulgent. They enjoy savoring experiences with all five senses. They’re generally cool, calm and collected, but when they get mad, watch out! They can be like a bull in a china shop. They can also be stubborn, possessive and resistant to change. While some may see them as lazy, they prefer to call it rest and relaxation. As Venus is the ruler of Taurus, these characteristics can be further defined or modified by the sign and house placement of their natal Venus.
Gemini: A Gemini rising is all about communication. There is a sharpness of mind and restlessness of spirit although not in a negative way. So many things will interest you and there may seem to be not enough hours in the day to do them all. A Gemini rising usually gives a slender body frame perhaps from all the mental energy expended. You will never be without words within a conversation infact you may be the one waiting for the other person or the rest of the group to catch up with what is going on. You will have many interests and hobbies. Romantically you need to connect with your partner on an intellectual level. If you are involved with someone with Gemini rising then brush up on what is going on in the world and/or find out what interests them and start talking to them about it.
Cancer: It’s all about the home and family life for you. You are great at being the caregiver and nourishing those around you. There is a softness to your body which goes well with the mother instinct inside you. For a male with Cancer rising there is the capacity to be on the lookout to what will make the family feel secure and safe alongside wanting to be emotional depended upon by your partner. This works both ways. Cancers are all about emotions, giving and caring which means you will seek a partner and home life that supply you with these traits. You have the ability to listen to those around you and give them advice to help them on their way in life.
Leo: If all the world were a stage and you have a Leo rising then you would be very happy indeed! A Leo rising needs to be seen and appreciated afterall you are the king of the jungle and also the master of your own lair (Universe). There is a sense of the dramatic around you and you make a good actor. Alongside this you have an open heart and are not mean spirited but rather generous with your time, money, emotions. Your partner needs to realise this as if you are not being treated as the “king” you are and you are with a partner who is holding back, being stingy with emotions and finances you will not feel appreciated. You deserve the best because you are the best and there is no getting around that. Just make sure you live up to your innate sense of Leo rising character and don’t take the negative side of it.
Virgo: You are precise, quick thinking and intelligent. For you the world is seen through an intellectual layer where you are discerning on what you want in your life and what you don’t want in your life. You are extremely helpful to others especially animals and those who are ill. Emotionally you may need to be needed in some way and for this reason you may wish to make certain that you needs are being met on an equal basis by your partner although you probably won’t do this and you have a sense of needing to be the “giver” in anything you do. Emotionally you may have the tendency to nitpick those around you and while you think you are doing this for their benefit it may not always feel like this to the person on the receiving end… infact it may feel very much like criticism.
Libra: You have the need to keep your life in balance and have the need to see all sides of a situation. You are not one to rush into an argument but sometimes because of your need to look at the situation as a whole you may open your mouth and find yourself arguing a cause that you don’t fully agree with but nevertheless have opened a can of worms because you were just trying to see the situation from all sides. Libra rising usually gives you a sense of beauty and refinement. You will like fashion and have a fine sense of style. You’ll enjoy all those feminine things ie trips to the beauty salon, hairdressers and being spoilt by your partner. If you are dating someone with a Libra rising make sure you are well dressed as these people have a need to gaze upon beauty.
Scorpio: If you like your emotional life intense then try someone with a Scorpio rising. They are the detectives of the zodiac and want to know everything that is going on. Expect deep and meaningful conversations to be the norm as a Scorpio rising will want to know all your secrets and won’t stop until they do. Warning note: this may including snooping around to find out what they think you are hiding from them. They are intensely loyal, emotionally deep and sexy as hell so if you can handle all of these traits then you are onto a winner with a Scorpio rising. If you want to drive them a bit crazy just act mysterious as they like to unravel a mystery especially if it has a good ending. And it better be a good ending because if it’s not they may be out of your life before you know it.
Sagittarius: There’s a joviality to your outlook on life alongside a need for a sense of adventure. Sagittarius is considered the lucky sign of the zodiac so having a Sagittarian ascendant is the next best thing. It means you will have a need to always be learning, like travel and foreign cultures alongside being able to comfortable immerse yourself within these cultures. Others may see you as outspoken and brutally honest. You are upbeat to be around and usually a bit of a clown in others company. For this reason people flock to you as you take their minds of the mundane and have the capacity to make them laugh. If you can laugh at yourself then so can others.
Capricorn: Life is a journey for you and the road you travel is every bit as important as the destination. Capricorn rising usually hold their looks well into old age as they tend to be so sturdy and solid in their health that by the time you have reached that time in your life you are ready to have some fun whereas others may be thinking of slowing down you are just getting ready to let your hair down. There’s a seriousness to this ascendant that is hard to break through. It allows you to reach success but may also leave you a bit lonely if success becomes your sole purpose in life. Don’t expect a Capricorn rising person to slow down and loosen up their attitudes to life until later in life but when they do they are more sprightly than most around them.
Aquarius: Eccentric and born ahead of your time. That’s what you get from an Aquarian rising. You will place your friends and friendships high on your list of priorities alongside you need to fight a cause. Others may find you a bit stand offish but this is because you get to know people first before allowing them to get close to you. There is also a sense of exquisite beauty usually accompanying an Aquarian rising as it is ethereal and hard to put your finger on. You have a quick mind, a sharp intellect and lightening reflexes when it comes to understanding complexes that are well ahead of their time. Come to think of you you are well ahead of your time. You find love through friendship and friendship through love and anyone who wishes to be your partner should keep these two things in mind.
Pisces: Dreamy and able to immerse yourself in others. You have a healing quality around you just by being in your presence which can work for or against you. If you can manage good boundaries then this healing quality can be used for you to help others but if you allow yourself to become too overwhelmed by others and their problems then you may lose yourself. If Pisces is your ascendant you need to take some time out for yourself and do so frequently in order to replenish your energy levels and get straight in your head what you want versus what others are wanting from you. You’ll be interested in the arts, creativity of all kinds and psychic matters. There is also a high chance that you are a natural born psychic regardless of your Sun sign.
The birth time and place are both necessary for locating your exact rising sign. The table above will not give you precise information. In fact, it can be as much as a full sign off. And while more in-depth interpretations for each rising sign can br found in a good book, such as Jeanne Avery’s The Rising Sign: Your Astrological Mask, you can also leave a comment below (with your date — spelled out please — time and place of birth (City, State and Country), and we’ll be happy to tell you what yours is. You can also come to one of us for a comprehensive natal analysis.
Be sure to check out our natal and compatibility chart calculators too!
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Thinking about learning Astrology? I highly recommend Stephen Arroyo’s Chart Interpretation Handbook and Demetra George’s Astrology for Yourself.
Hi I was born on the 10 th of September 1977 at 15:35 PM (in the afternoon) . In Hvidovre /Denmark. On a Saturday. Hope you can help. Thank you ?
hi Marianne, That’s 1 Capricorn 15
Thank you so much??
What does the 1 and 15 Mean.?
And is capricorn My Ascendant or the moon Sign?
And if its My Ascendant, do you know what My moon Sign is?
My son was born on June 7, 1974 at 11:00 am in Smithtown, NY. Would like to know his rising sign
and any other pertinent information. Thank you.
Hi Gladys, is that exactly 11am? On the nose? If so he’s 26º Leo 26′.
I was born on 7/12/1958 at 10:15 a.m.
Hi Karen you have to include your place of birth.
Nicole white July 5, 1976 at 10:30 am Redlands California USA
Hi Nicole, that’s 12º Virgo 27 🙂
It’s for my daughter. She was born on September 15, 2018 at 10:28 in Bangalore, India. What’s her ascendant.
Hi Rekha — that’s 24 Scorpio 04 ??
December 5 1971
3:28 pm
Baton rouge louisiana
Hi Candise — that is 17 Taurus 46.
hi i know a lil bit astrology, my birth date is in 1 feb 1994 at 03:00 pm kabul,afghanistan, some sites showes my ascendant sign in 13 degree of cancer but some sites they shows 9 degree of cancer. which one should i admit and when i calculated my sign by my own self i took it out in 7 degree of cancer. so can you please tell me in which decan of cancer i prolong?
Hi Hasher — that’s 13 Cancer 40, or the 2nd (Scorpio) decanate.
Good morning. December 6, 1966, 6:10 am, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Hi Montana — that’s 5 Sagittarius 48. ?
But what about GMT time? I had a personal horoscope done years ago. Inside it listed my birth time which was 6.30am UK. But also gave another time of 5.30am gmt time. When I look at my chart they have based and used everything off the GMT time. Which would clearly give a complete different sign. There is no mention of this here. Is this correct?
Any more, with computers and up-to-date time zone information, all that is accounted for when a chart is calculated. So while it IS important in some respects it’s not going to affect the calculation of your natal chart. You’re going to go by the 6:30 am birth time and let the program do the rest.
What is the rising sign of a person born on 28 april 1982 wednesday in bangkok thailand please?
You need the birth date, TIME and place of birth in order to get the rising sign.
Hi in some websites my rising is leo and in others it is Virgo, which one is True ?? I am born on March 5th 1989 at 5 : 36 pm in India at Ottapalam
( 10.7723° N, 76.3695° E ). Please help
Hello Aiswarya — I’m actually getting 1º Virgo which is accurate in the Western / tropical system. You may be more accustomed to Vedic astrology sites which would explain why you sometimes get Leo (in the Vedic / Eastern system you would be around 7º Leo rising).
Could you please tell me what my ascendant sign is? I was born in Williamstown, a suburb in the city of Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, Australia. The time was12.05pm
Hi Matthew, you need to list your birthdate too.
Can you tell mine ascending sign.
Birt date:18/06/1997
Time :5:30 am
Location :27.6710° N, 85.4298° E
Hi Purshotam — can you just list your place of birth? My atlas will calculate the coordinates. thanks!
What happens if you are on the cusp? I am a Taurus / Gemini and I always get so confused when trying to figure things like this out.
If you have your exact birth time, you will know for sure. Chances are good that one or more of your personal planets (Mercury / Venus) are in the other sign, which is why the “cusp” theory often makes sense. But you’re going to be one Sun sign or the other, and your exact date, time and place will determine which one that is.
Bhaktapur, Nepal
Thanks
Hi Purshotam — in the Western system that’s 1º Cancer 01′. But in the Vedic system (which many natives of India prefer) it’s 7º Gemini 12.
Hello,
I was born on Sept 12 1994 at Kodungallur, India (10.2244° N, 76.1978° E)
Birth time is 13:36.
Some sites say my ascendant is capricorn while in others it’s sagittarius.
Ash this is more than likely due to the difference between Eastern and Western astrology sites. Western Astrology puts you at about 4 Capricorn rising, where Eastern (Indian / Vedic) astrology would put you at about 10 Sagittarius rising. This is because the two systems use different zodiacs (with the vedic or sidereal zodiac being about 24 degrees earlier than the western / tropical zodiac). We are Western / Tropical astrologers on this site, so would read it as 4 Capricorn rising.
Thank you for clarifying
Hello..
My name is Manshi Yadav
Dob 15 August 1996
Time 9.30 pm
Day Thursday
Hi Manshi — You need to include your birth place.
Hi ,
I need to know about my rising star. I am born on 2nd december, 1990 and timing is 12:05 am and birth place is faridabad, haryana, india.
Hi Meenakshi — in Western (Tropical) astrology, that is 9 Virgo 15. In the vedic system, which is more common in India, it’s 15 Leo 31. ?
Hi Melodie!
July 28 1982
2 am
Kingston, ON Canada
Hi Laura that is 15 Gemini 24
This would be for me i was born in Orange County California at 609 am on April 1st 1983 I know that I am an Aries but was curious on the rising sign thanks for the help in advance
Hi Donna — you’re Aries rising too! (20 degrees). You’ve also got Mercury and Mars in Aries and Moon in Scorpio. Hope this helps!
Hello there. I hope you can direct me to the resources I’m looking for. I was born in Paget, Bermuda at 10:35 PM on June 27th, 1969. That was the year of Aquarius right? Haha.
Anyway, the calculators I’ve tried don;t seem to have that data available. I’m happy to do my own research, just need a little direction.
Thanks and have a nice night/morning/month.
I appreciate any help you may be able to provide.
Sincerely,
Rich
Hi! this gives you 0º Pisces 44′. Your Midheaven is 11º Sagittarius 32′. I know you didn’t ask for that, but I mention it because your Moon is also 11º Sagittarius 32′. Fascinating chart!
I was born at 11:57 pm on March 18th 2001 and my sidereal says 11:42:30
Hi Quenderious, you need the place of birth to determine the correct rising sign and degree.
I was born in Cleveland Mississippi
Hi again! That is 11 Sagittarius 11.
I think I am a Taurus rising cuz I look nun like a sag. Or act like one. Canu guess what my rising sign is?
with that birth time, it’s 11 Sag 11. You have to take other things into consideration than just the rising sign when looking at physical appearance, such as chart ruler and angular planets. You wouldn’t be Taurus rising with that birth time.
Although Babylonian astronomers had observed the actual rising times of the signs, there is no specific mention of the ascendant in the texts that have survived on clay tablets.
you’re probably right about that, but you would agree that astrology has evolved over time? And that there are many insights and observations that have developed over the years?
I cannot obtain my birth records due to a fire where my records were stored…..my parents are both deceased so I cannot find out if they remembered my exact birth time. I had a natal chart done many years ago but I don’t know how a accurate it was. I was born in Detroit, Michigan on Feb.23,1954. Is there a way to find out
Hi Michele, Sometimes you can find it in the local newspaper, or from a hospital wristband, baby book, family bible etc. Otherwise, I think Michigan at one time stored birth records at both the hospital and county health department. If none of those are viable you might have a competent astrologer rectify your birth time but be very careful there; you want to find someone who specializes in that and who has a good success rate. I wish you all the best.
Hello! I was born January 28, 1994 at 9:50 in Burin, Newfoundland, Canada! What would my ascending be? Thanks!
Hi Marissa, if you mean 9:50 am, it’a 4 Aries 54.
I was born October 22nd 1990 at Kaduna, North-central Nigeria (10° 31′ 23″
North, 7° 26′ 25″ East). I don’t know the exact time, please help me out with my Rising sign.
Thank you!
Hi Monday, I’m sorry you can’t know the rising sign without an accurate birth time.
Hi! My husband was born April 12th, 1947 in Mineola, NY at 11:42 am. What is his rising?
Hi Cathy, that is 1 Leo 17. He might not “feel” like much of a Leo rising to you, as he has Saturn right on his ascendant. But with an Aries Sun, Leo rising and Capricorn Moon I’m sure this man can hold his own ?
Hi Mel and Chris. I would like to know my husbands ascendant and moon signs please. His birthday is April 20th 1989 and he is a Taurus/Aries cusp. He was born at 7:50a in vero beach Florida United states which is nearby Melbourne Florida United states. Thank you:)
Hi Melissa! that is 17 Taurus 19. He’s also Taurus Sun, he not only does not have any Aries in his chart, but he is also completely lacking in Fire). He must be a pretty mellow guy.
Hi Mel and Chris
I just sent a comment asking about my own chart specifications. I was also wondering with my husbands chart does that mean he is a Taurus sun Scorpio moon and Taurus rising? The e mail included eith my last two comments is my new one…named after my new baby girl Melody Elise Walker who was born October 18th 2019 at 7:30a in vero beach Florida which is nearby Melbourne FL United States. If u have time I’d appreciate her chart info as well! 😉
Hi Melissa, congratulations on your new baby! Beautiful name too 🙂 She was born just as the Sun was coming up over the Eastern Horizon. Her Sun in 24 Libra 47 and her Ascendant is 25 Libra 25. So it’s one degree away (having already risen). Her Moon is 17 Gemini 28.
Also Melissa, regarding your hubby. He’s Taurus Sun and rising (with Mercury and Venus also in Taurus and the three of them are in his 12th house). And Libra Moon. I guess I completely missed the question earlier about his Moon! I apologize ?
Hi Melodie! Thank u so much for the helpful information regarding my little family. I didnt know cody had the same moon as mine but we do have a special connection so it makes sense. ? And thank u I love my new baby daughters name..its extra meaningful becuz I put my husbands name and mine together to create it…the same way my mothers parents came up with hers. Mels middle name is after Beethoven’s famous song and one of my fave sports cars too lol. ? I will be in touch in the future. Happy 2020!
Hey,
Dob: 4th july, 2002
Time: 11:00 am
Day: Thursday
Place: Gojra, Punjab Pakistan
What’s my rising sign???
Hi Shanza — that is 23 Virgo 24. 🙂
Hi melodie, I was born on october4th 2000 at 11:40 in Kerman, iran
What would my rising sign be?
Hi Aida — that is 28 Sagittarius 23, with your Moon at 29 Sag right on your ascendant. ?
Hi Melodie,
My daughter was born 09 December 2019 at 14:07pm in Melbourne, Australia. Can you tell me her Rising sign please?
hi Delaney — that’s 19 Aries 41 🙂
I think it’s Pisces? If you take DST into account. That’s what was confusing me.
Hello there, August 1st at 515
Hi Michelle you didn’t include your birth year, or your place of birth.