A Note on Geocentric Latitude Correction

by Tin Win, KP E-Zine May 2008

Geocentric Longitudes
1. Geocentric system was given by Ptolemy and the Geocentric longitudes of the
planetary positions as seen from the center of Earth have been used in the ephemeris. The
Topocentric longitudes are the positions as seen by an observer at any specified point of
the Earths surface, and they slightly differ from the Geocentric positions.
2. The charts generally give the Geocentric longitudes of the planets and the cuspal
positions by the Geographic latitudes of birth place, unless the Geocentric latitude option
or correction is specifically mentioned. It is to note that Geocentric specified in the
charts of the AstroDatabank, Astrodienst, websites, books etc. means Geocentric for
planetary positions only and cuspal positions are as per Geographic latitude of birth
place. The astrological SWs, except Shri Raichurs, generally give the same results unless
the default setting is changed to Geocentric latitude option or Geocentric correction. This
is the commonly used system in the calculation and presentation of charts. So it is
necessary to specifically mention Geocentric latitude option or correction, if it is used.
Geocentric Latitudes
3. The Geocentric latitude is the angle between the equatorial plane and a line from the
center of Earth. The Geographic or geodedic latitude is the angle between the equatorial
plane and a line from the point of interest on the surface of Earth. The latitude of a place
shown in the atlas is the Geographic latitude. It is calculated from the surface of the earth
at the locality where the individual is born. The Geocentric latitude of place of birth on
the surface of Earth is determined from the point of interest to the center of Earth, as if
the birth took place there.
4. It has been advocated for the use of geocentric latitudes in calculating the house cusps
of horoscope to ensure better accuracy and precision, in the Astrology and Athrista by N.
Krishna Murthy (1978 May), M.G.G. Nayar (1980), K. Balachandran, Universal Tables
of Houses (1985) by S. Balasundaram & A.R. Raichur, end part of Astrosecrets & KP,
Part II by K. Subramaniam (Edt), How to Cast and Read Your Horoscope? by K.
Hariharan, beginning part of Astrology for Beginners, Vol 5, by K. Subramaniam.
Because the earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid, bulged at equator and
slightly flat along the two poles. As the house figures furnished in the UTOH (and all
Tables of Houses generally) are for Geocentric latitudes only, it is essential to convert the
Geographical latitude to Geocentric one in using the tables of houses. The conversion
formulas and the table of minutes for Geocentric correction are provided. (Such table is
available in the KP for Beginners-Part 2)
5. The Geocentric latitude equivalent to Geographic one can be found by the formula:

tan A = tan B x 0.993 30546

where A & B are the Geographic and Geocentric latitudes.
(Log tan A = Log tan B + 9.9970828)
6. Shri Raichurs SW uses the Geocentric latitude. It converts the Geographic latitude
from the atlas to the Geocentric one and gives the cuspal positions for the Geocentric
longitude of birth place. Now it is understandable why is the difference in the cuspal
positions given by Shri Raichurs SW for the Geocentric latitude and other KP SWs for
the Geographic latitude of birth place as per default setting. Other SWs will also use the
Geocentric latitude by choosing the Geocentric option or Geocentric Correction option.
7. Nowadays there is a tendency of preferring Geocentric latitude of a place of birth
other than Geographic latitude. So the Geocentric latitude option or Geocentric correction
is incorporated in many SWs like KPAstro 3.0, Astraura, Jyotishya Deepika,
Astracadabra, Solar Fire etc.
Which One, Geographic or Geocentric is Preferable
8. The preference for Geocentric latitude is as follows:
(a) The preference by some KP followers as mentioned in the point 4;
(b) Charles A Jayne preferred the Geocentric latitude which is 11less (for 40N05) so
that he had used 39N54 in Locality Astrology;
(c) A table of minutes for Geocentric correction is provided in the AFA Tables of
Houses, Placidus System, American Federation of Astrologers;
(d) Making correct prediction using the Shri Raichurs SW which applies the
Geocentric latitude all the time.
9. The preference for Geographic latitude is as given under:
(a) Robert Hand had shown in Geocentric Latitude: Some Second Thoughts (Essays on
Astrology) that the preference for geocentric latitude was evidently due to an
unfortunate accident in terminology and the use of geographic latitude gave more
accurate results;
(b) Geoffrey Dean, in Recent Advances in Natal Astrology, found the Topocentric
system reasonably effective when he studied it;
(c) Preference for Geocentric in the Western literature is found mainly for planetary
positions, for instance Llewellyn George is for Geocentric for the planetary positions,
not for the Geocentric latitude as mentioned in the Astrosecrets & KP, Part II;
(d) The way of measuring the Geographic latitude seems in line what is required for the
calculation of house cusps and the Geocentric latitude may not fulfill this condition.
One may wonder if the Geocentric positions of all planets are used, why to use the
Geographic latitude of birth place? The difference is that all planets are moving in
the sky to measure from the center of earth but the birth place is located on earth at
different levels from sea. Also N Blunsdon points out in Low Thoughts on High
Latitudes that the angle, which determines the Ascendant, is much more accurately

given by Geographic latitude than by Geocentric latitude. (Geoffrey Dean: Recent

Advances in Natal Astrology);
(e) If one is tracking objects that are orbiting the Earth in space, then one will probably
prefer to use the geocentric coordinate system rather than the geographical one but
not for tracking a location of birth on the surface of Earth;
(f) One may also argue that since Earth is not a perfect sphere, the Geographic latitude
is supposed to represent the place of birth more accurately compared to a Geocentric
representation;
(g) Commonly applied from Guruji Sri K.S. Krishnamurtis time till now, as correctly
mentioned by Kousalya Sattainathan that Guruji used Geographic latitude only, in
her KP Astrology & Prime Ministers & KPs Nirayana Horary Tables for 2003,
for Delhi, Kolkata & Mumbai.
Conclusion
10. The maximum difference between Geocentric and Geographic latitudes is only about
11 minutes, not so much like in the case of Ayanamsa that it may not change the sublords and results of KP analysis, except in the border line case. I use and prefer the
Geographic latitude as it is commonly used and well tested but I keep my mind open to
experiment with the application of Geocentric latitude correction. By choosing the
Geocentric option or Geocentric Correction option, the SW will give the results for the
Geocentric latitude of birth place. It is necessary to mention Geocentric latitude, if it is
used to avoid confusion, otherwise it is understood that Geographic latitude is used.

KP for Beginners- Part 3

Casting a Horoscope by Computer
by Tin Win, KP E-Zine June 2008
ABSTRACTS
Raphael ephemeris and table of houses ruled the astrological world when Guruji KSK
was doing research and writing KP. These days, the highly accurate Swiss ephemeris
dominates the current astrological SWs like KPAstro 3.0, Jagannatha Hora (J Hora),
Astro-Kundli, Jyotishya Deepika, Astracadabra and Solar Fire in providing better results
with high precision than the manual calculation.
Example Chart 1, Male, May 15, 1963, 12:05 PM IST, Ahmedabad, 23N02, 72E37
Example Chart 2, Horary no. 105 (1-249), 10:04:48 AM IST, Jan 5, 2008, Ahmedabad
(LG Hospital), 23N00, 72E36

TABLES OF CALCULATED RESULTS BY SWs

Table 2: Comparison of the Cuspal Positions of Example Chart 1 (Natal)
Cp KPAstro3.0 Raichur* Jyotishya AstroAstraura
JHora
Leo Gold
Astrodienst
Kundli
Deepika
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
114-41-33
114-39114-41-32 114-41-49 114-41-32 114-41-33 114-41-46
1
8
1
140-54-30
140-54-00 140-54-29 140-54-47 140-54-28 140-54-31 140-54-44
2
170-42-46
170-43-16 170-42-45 170-43-02 170-42-44 170-42-46 170-43-01
3
202-51-02
202-51-11 202-51-01 202-51-18 202-51-01 202-51-02 202-51-19
4
234-52-06
234-50-55 234-52-04 234-52-22 234-52-05 234-52-06 234-52-21
5
265-28-12
265-25265-28-10 265-28-28 265-28-10 265-28-12 265-28-26
55
6
294-41-33
294-39294-41-32 294-41-49 294-41-32 294-41-33 294-41-46
18
7
320-54-30
320-54-00 320-54-29 320-54-47 320-54-28 320-54-31 320-54-44
8
350-42-46
350-43-16 350-42-45 350-43-02 350-42-44 350-42-46 350-43-01
9
022-51-02
022-51-11 022-51-01 022-51-18 022-51-01 022-51-02 022-51-19
10
054-52-06
054-50-55 054-52-04 054-52-22 054-52-05 054-52-06 054-52-21
11
085-28-12
085-25085-28-10 085-28-28 085-28-10 085-28-12 085-28-26
5
5
12
Note: * using Geocentric latitude and other SWs using Geographic latitude as default
1) KPAstro 3.0s NKPA 23:15:20 is taken as a base Ayanamsa for comparison of positions.
It is adjusted for 1 sec difference for Raichurs and Jyotishya Deepika 2.0
(http://www.krishnamurtipaddhati.com), 25 sec difference for Astro-Kundli
(Courtesy of Swami RCS), 54 sec difference for Astraura, 5 sec difference for JHora and
16 sec difference for Leo Gold (http://www.leogold.com) (Courtesy of Vasudhakar

Goswami).
2) Significantly different 1/7 & 6/12 cuspal positions of Col. 3 due to the use of Geocentric
latitude have the same Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl in Table 5, Col. 2 as other SWs using the
Geographic latitude.

Table 3: Comparison of the Cuspal Positions of

Example Chart 1 (Natal) (Geocentric Latitude)
Cp KPAstro3.0 Raichur* Jyotishya Astraura
Deepika

114-39-08

114-39-18 114-39-07 114-39-07

140-53-49

140-54-00 140-53-48 140-53-47

170-43-05

170-43-16 170-43-04 170-43-03

202-51-02

202-51-11 202-51-01 202-51-01

234-50-47

234-50-55 234-50-46 234-50-46

265-25-47

265-25-55 265-25-45 265-25-45

294-39-08

294-39-18 294-39-07 294-39-07

320-53-49

320-54-00 320-53-48 320-53-47

350-43-05

350-43-16 350-43-04 350-43-03

022-51-02

022-51-11 022-51-01 022-51-01

054-50-47

054-50-55 054-50-46 054-50-46

085-25-47

085-25-55 085-25-45 085-25-45

1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Note: * the same as in Table 2, Col. 3

1) The difference in KPA is adjusted as shown under Table 2.

2) Almost the same by Raichurs and other SWs using the Geocentric latitude
3) Generally the cuspal positions by Geocentric latitude are lower than the ones by
Geographic latitude but they may be sometimes higher or equal to the positions
by Geographic latitude as found for the 3/9 and 4/10 cusps in Table 2 & 3.
Table 4: Comparison of the Calculated Planetary Positions of Example Chart 1 (Natal)
KPAstro3.0 Raichur
Astraura
J Hora
Leo
Jyotishya AstroAstrodienst
Gold
Deepika Kundli

Plt

1
Su
Mo
Ma
MeR
Ju
Ve
Sa
Ra
Ke
Ur

2
030-28-04
284-38-56
117-47-23
034-50-17
345-59-48
002-10-37
299-33-23
090-19-05
270-19-05
127-54-27

3
030-28-31
284-39-15
117-47-44
034-50-39
346-00-24
002-11-03
299-34-44
090-19-19
270-19-19
127-54-16

4
030-28-03
284-38-55
117-47-21
034-50-15
345-59-47
002-10-36
299-33-21
090-19-03
270-19-03
127-54-26

5
030-28-20
284-39-12
117-47-38
034-50-32
346-00-04
002-10-53
299-33-38
090-19-20
270-19-20
127-54-43

6
030-28-04
284-38-56
117-47-22
034-50-16
345-59-48
002-10-37
299-33-22
090-19-18
270-19-18
127-54-27

7
030-28-25
284-38-58
117-47-35
034-50-10
346-00-12
002-11-13
299-33-29
090-19-05
270-19-05

8
030-28-01
284-38-19
117-47-20
034-50-18
345-59-47
002-10-33
299-33-21
090-19-10
270-19-10
127-54-26

NeR
PlR
Note:
1)
2)

200-46-46
136-17-32

200-46-02 200-46-45 200-47-01 200-46-45

136-16-30 136-17-31 136-17-48 136-17-31

200-46-46
136-17-30

The difference in KPAs is adjusted as shown under Table 2.

The Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl of planets in Table 5, Col. 5 are found the same for all SWs.

Table 5: Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl of the cusps and Planets of Example Chart 1 & 2

as per KPAstro 3.0 (Geographic latitude)
Cp Exampale
Chart 1
Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl

Example
Chart 2
Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl

Plt
4

3
Su

Mo-Me-Ra-Sa

Sa-Su-Ra-Ra

Su-Ve-Ju-Ke

Me-Ma-Ju-Ra

3
4
5

Me-Mo-VeVe
Ve-Ju-Sa-Ve

Exampale
Example
Chart 1
Chart 2
Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl
5
6
Ve-Su-Ra-Ke

Ju-Ve-Ju-Ju

Mo Sa-Mo-Ju-Me

Ma-Sa-Ra-Ju

Ma

Mo-Me-Ju-Ra

Me-Ma-Ve-Me

Me

Ve-Su-Sa-Ju

Sa-Su-Ju-Ju

Ju

Ju-Sa-Ju-Ve

Ju-Ke-Sa-Ve

Ve-Ju-Ve-Me

Ma-Me-SaMo

Ma-Me-Ra-Sa
Ju-Ve-Me-Ju

Ju-Su-Ra-Sa
Sa-Ma-Me-Me

Ve

Ma-Ke-Ve-Ju

Ma-Sa-Ma-Ve

Sa-Ma-Ra-Sa

Sa-Ju-Su-Me

Sa

Sa-Ma-Sa-Ra

Su-Ve-Ve-Ra

Sa-Ju-Ju-Ve

Ju-Me-Ju-Ra

Ra

Mo-Ju-Mo-Ve

Sa-Ma-Mo-Me

Ju-Me-Ve-Ju

Ma-Su-Mo-Ve

Ke

Sa-Su-Ra-Me

Su-Ke-Ra-Sa

Mar-Ve-Sa-Ve

Ve-Ma-Sa-Mo

Ur

Su-Ke-Ju-Sa

Sa-Ju-Ju-Ra

Ve-Ma-Ra-Sa

Me-Ju-Mo-Sa

Ne

Ve-Ju-Ju-Ke

Sa-Ma-Ju-Sa

6
7
8
9
10
11
Me-Ju-Me-Ju
Su-Ke-Ke-Su
Pl
Su-Ve-Mo-Mo Ju-Ke-Ma-Ve
12
Note:
1) Generally the Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl of cusps of the Example Chart 1 & 2 are found the same for
all SWs using the Geographic or Geocentric latitude except one Ssl difference below.
2) Referring Table 5, Col. 2, the Ssl of 1/7 cusp of the Example Chart 1 is Saturn for the
Geographic latitude (Table 2) but it is Jupiter for the Geocentric latitude. (Table 3)

Table 6: Comparison of the Cuspal Positions of Example Chart 2 (Horary)

KPAstro
Raichur
Astraura
AstroSage Leo Gold
Jyotishya Astro3.0
Kundli
Cp
Deepika

149-13-20 149-13-20

149-13-20 149-13-20* 149-13-20 149-13-20 149-13-20

177-51-02 177-52-30

177-51-06 177-51-07

177-51-05 177-51-12 177-51-05

208-20-26 208-21-58

208-20-30 208-20-32

208-20-29 208-20-31 208-20-30

239-14-05 239-14-34

239-14-09 239-14-10

239-14-09 239-14-09 239-14-09

269-55-45 269-55-04

300-12-31 300-12-32

269-55-50 269-55-48 269-55-49

300-12-35 300-12-35
300-12-35

329-13-20 329-13-20
357-51-02 357-52-30

269-55-49 269-55-50
300-12-36
300-1234
329-13-20*
329-1320
357-51-06 357-51-07

028-20-26 028-21-58

028-20-30 028-20-32

028-20-29 028-20-31 028-20-30

059-14-05 059-14-34

059-14-09 059-14-10

059-14-09 059-14-09 059-14-09

089-55-45 089-55-04

089-55-49 089-55-50

089-55-50 089-55-48 089-55-49

329-13-20 329-13-20
329-13-20
357-51-05 357-51-12 357-51-05

8
9
10
11
120-12-31 120-12-3 2 120-12-35 120-12-36 120-12-35 120-12-35 120-12-31
12
Note: * Courtesy of Dr. Kumara Sanjaya
1) On the basis of the Sidereal Time corresponding to the fixed position of Ascendant by
the chosen Horary no, other cusps are calculated and so here is not relevant to adjust
the difference in KPAs as shown under the Table 2. Practically J Hora gives almost the
same positions of Astraura whether with the OKPA 23-52-11 or NKAP 23-52-43 with
a negligible change in positions due to 32 sec difference in KPAs.
2) Significantly different 2/8 & 3/9 cuspal positions in Col. 3 due to the use of Geocentric
latitude, the Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl of cusps are the same for all SWs using Geographic latitude
as shown in Table 5, Col 2.

Table 7: Comparison of the Cuspal Positions of

Example Chart 2 (Horary) (Geocentric Latitude)
KPAstro
Raichur
Jyotishya Astraura
Cp 3.0
Deepika
1

149-13-20

149-13-20 149-13-20 149-13-20

177-52-27

177-52-30 177-52-28 177-52-28

208-21-57

208-21-58 208-21-58 208-21-58

239-14-33

239-14-34 239-14-34 239-14-34

269-55-02

269-55-04 269-55-03 269-55-04

300-11-31

300-12-32 300-11-33 300-11-33

329-13-20
357-52-27

329-13-20 329-13-20 329-13-20

357-52-28 357-52-28 357-52-27

028-21-57

028-21-58 028-21-58 028-21-57

059-14-33

059-14-34 059-14-34 059-14-33

089-55-02

089-55-03 089-55-03 089-55-02

8
9
10
11
120-11-3 1 120-12-32 120-11-33 120-11-3 1
12

Table 8: Comparison of the Calculated Planetary Positions of Example Chart 2 (Horary)

KPAstro3.0 Raichur
Astraura
AstroSage Leo Gold
Jyotishya AstroAstrodienst
Kundli
Deepika

Plt

1
Su
Mo
MaR
Me
Ju
Ve
SaR
Ra
Ke
Ur
Ne
Pl
Note:

2
260-19-16
223-16-54
064-33-00
271-13-28
250-05-39
222-43-05
134-26-12
306-14-31
126-14-31
321-37-26
296-30-31
245-24-39

3
260-19-18
223-16-44
064-31-58
271-13-23
250-05-51
222-42-56
134-25-16
306-14-18
126-14-18
321-37-19
296-31-26
245-24-10

4
260-19-15
223-16-52
064-32-59
271-13-27
250-05-38
222-43-04
134-26-11
306-14-30
126-14-30
321-37-25
296-30-30
245-24-38

5
260-19-07
223-16-47
064-32-50
271-13-18
250-05-29
222-42-55
134-26-03
306-14-21
126-14-21
321-37-16
296-30-21
245-24-29

6
260-19-17
223-16-56
064-33-00
271-13-28
250-05-39
222-43-05
134-26-13
306-14-18
126-14-18
321-37-26
296-30-32
245-24-39

7
260-19-33
223-16-19
064-31-20
271-14-06
250-05-02
222-43-27
134-24-00
306-14-03
126-14-03

8
260-19-10
223-15-44
064-33-02
271-13-18
250-05-18
222-42-57
134-26-11
306-14-18
126-14-18
321-37-26
296-30-32
245-24-35

1) The NKPA 23:52:43 by KPAstro 3.0 & Raichurs is taken as a base for comparison of
positions. It is adjusted for 3 sec difference for J yotishya Deepika 2.0, 23 sec by
Astro-Kundli (Courtesy of Swami_RCS), 26 sec difference by Astraura , 1 sec difference
by AstroSage ( http://www.AstroSage.com) (Courtesy of Punit Pandey) 16 sec
difference by Leo Gold. (Courtesy of Vasudhakar Goswami)
2) Sbl-Ssl of Mercury 271-13-18 (being less than 271-13-20) in Col 5 & 8, Sa-Su-Ra-Ma is
different from Sa-Su-Ju-Ju in Table 5, Col 6 by other SWs; Ssl of Jupiter 250-0502/250-05-18 (being less than 250-05-23) in Col 7 & 8, Ju-Ke-Sa-Ke is different from
Ju-Ke-Sa-Ve in Table 5, Col 6 by other SWs. Other Sgl-Stl-Sbl-Ssl are the same.