What’s My (Rising) Sign? Free Ascendant Calculator Tool

rising signThe “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.

rising-sign-table

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-glyphAries: 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-glyphTaurus 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-glyphGemini: 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 glyphCancer: 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-glyphLeo: 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-glyphVirgo: 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-glyphLibra: 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-glyphScorpio: 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.

sag-glyphSagittarius: 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.

cap-glyphCapricorn: 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.

aq-glyphAquarius: 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-glyphPisces: 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.

900 comments on “What’s My (Rising) Sign? Free Ascendant Calculator Tool

  1. Paola

    Hi. I was born on October 19, 1991 at 7:55pm in Mercedes, Argentina. Thank you.

  2. Bola

    Hi, I was born 3rd April 1993 in Lagos, Nigeria at 8:30pm, please what is my rising sign?

  3. Diana

    Hi, I was born 9:30 a.m. July 4, 1953 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Is my rising sign Leo? Everything I read about it doesn’t resonate with me.

    1. Melodie

      Hi Diana — this one is tricky because at 9:30am you’re 29 Leo rising and some change. If your correct birth time is even one minute later, you would be Virgo rising– and that seems very possible. I would read up on Virgo rising and see if you think that fits.

  4. vangie

    hi i was born september 12,1976 at 7 am morning in marikina philippines whats my rising sign thank you

  5. Felex

    Hi I was born on 1 june 2003 in mumbai, india at 8:20pm, please say what is my rising sun?

    1. Melodie

      Hi Felex, in the Western system, you’re 28 sag 45 rising. In the Vedic system (which is commonly used in India) you’d be about 24 degrees earlier, or 4 degrees sag.

  6. Anna L.

    Hi, birth place San Antonio, Texas. Date September 1, 1956 @ 18:26 pm. What is my planetary ascendent?
    Thank you.
    Anna L.

    1. Melodie

      Hi Anna — i love how Virgos are so good at following directions and being precise (as in submitting your birth time in 24-hour format :)). This is 0 Pisces 37. Which means if your birth time is even a minute off, you could be Aquarius rising instead. I’d read both and see what you think fits. All the best

  7. TechGlamour

    Hi Melodie, this is great article, thanks for sharing this informative blog post with us on the Internet about the rising signs and free ascendant calculator tool. Very interesting and useful.

  8. Lynsey Glass

    5.30am on August 12th 1984 in galesburg,il

  9. Mystical

    Hi! I was born on Jan 20th, 1999 in Ada, Oklahoma at 3:05 A.M. what is my rising sign?

  10. Leslie Nelson

    So glad u offer such a service! I’ve searched high and low for my grandaughter rising sign and moon sign. Would love you forever if you can tell me.
    Here’s her details.
    Emma Lynn Nelson
    March 1st 2016
    8:30 p.m.
    Santa Cruz California
    And if you maybe, do mine as well?
    Leslie kay Nelson
    October 25 1953
    Hayward california.
    12:,28 a.m.
    Thank you so much for your time.
    Leslie kay Nelson
    Alnburp@gmail.com

    1. Melodie

      Hi Leslie — Emma has 13 Libra 01 rising and a 14 Sagittarius 32 Moon (which is conjunct Saturn, at 15 Sag 57). As for you, it’s 20 Sagittarius 23 rising, with a Moon at 16 Gemini 17. All the best 🙂

  11. Shane

    Hi, I would like to know my rising sign, I was born on 19 March 1988, at 1 pm.

  12. Becca

    Hello! I was born on January 9, 1993 in Hutchinson, Kansas at 6:33 AM. What would my rising sign be? (:

    1. Melodie

      Hi Becca — that’s 29 Sagittarius 34. I would check out Capricorn too if I were you as you are one minute away from being Cap rising

    1. Mel and Chris

      well Don — that birth time gives you 00 Sagittarius 00. Meaning that it’s seconds away from being Scorpio rising, and in your shoes I’d read up on both and see which one you think fits. Keep in mind that you do have a Scorpio Moon, so that archetype is likely to resonate with you either way. All the best.

  13. Juliet

    Hi, I have been told all my life that my rising sign is cancer but I have a friend who is a veteran astrologer and she swears my rising sign is Leo. Can you please comment? Birth data = June 12, 1963 at 8:59 a.m. in Jacksonville, Florida.

    1. Melodie

      Hi Juliet — it’s 7 Leo 09. It’s possible that whoever did your chart before adjusted for daylight savings time, which was in effect in some but not all states in June of 1963. I double checked this and it was not observed in Florida at the time you were born. I hope this solves the riddle for you.

  14. Kaitlyn

    Hi! I was born February 24th, 1995 in Yuma, AZ at 10:43 p.m..
    Also, what do the numbers next to the signs mean? Example: “8 Scorpio 33”. What do “8” and “33” stand for?
    Thank you,
    Kaitlyn

    1. Melodie

      Hi Kaitlyn — that’a 0 Scorpio 14. The first number refers to degrees (there are 30 degrees in each sign). And the second number is minutes of arc (a minute of arc is 1/60th of a degree, so there are 60 of those).

      1. Kaitlyn Taylor

        Thank you so much Melodie! Just out of curiosity what would be my ascending sign?

        1. Melodie

          That is your ascending sign (Scorpio). It’s the same thing as the rising sign.

  15. Nicole

    Hi I was born June 21 75 Memphis TN don’t know what time

    1. Melodie

      Hi Nicole, without your birth time we can’t know your rising sign. all the best

  16. Ojc

    Hi, I was born 27 April 1989 at 11:45pm. Whats my rising sun. And Venus as well

    1. Mel and Chris

      Hi Jane we can’t tell you your rising sign without your place of birth, but your venus is around 13 Taurus

  17. Pallabi Sinha

    Hello I was born in 1990, 7 September between 3 am to 3:30 am in India, Tripura, Kailashahar.could u help to know my rising sun

    1. Melodie

      Hi Pallabi, in the Western system, that’s somewhere between 14 and 21 Leo rising.

  18. Leon

    Hello, rising sign for both? And also what does the # next to the rising sign mean/designate?

    August 12, 1983 9pm (Tauraus ?) &
    July 24, 1982 8:12am ( Libra ?)

  19. Wak

    I was born on October 31 2003 at 1:30 i believe in Virginia, US

  20. khanyisa

    Hi, i was born on the 20th of January 2001, at 18:30, please tell me what my rising sign is <3

    1. Melodie

      Hi Khanyisa, you need to include your place of birth (city, state, country) as well.

  21. Samara Oliver

    Hi I was born February 25th 1992 at 18:32 or 18:36 in Joplin Missouri ( sorry about the time I’ve gotten two different times from my parents). I would like to know my rising sign.

  22. Baylee

    I was born June 29, 1995 at 10:38 in Pierre, SD. If you could help with my rising sign I would appreciate it! Thank you!

  23. OKSANA JOHNSON

    Hi, I was born 09 September 1976 just before or after 15:00 in Ternopil, Ukraine. Please, what is my rising sign? Thank you in advance:-)
    Also, where is the best to read about my houses etc

    1. Melodie

      Hi Oksana, at 15:00 exactly that day, 16 Sagittarius 02 was rising. For every 4 minutes or so before or after, you would adjust by 1 degree.

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