Nodes of the moon

[Guest guest]

I'd like to ask you all if anyone is aware of a specific software program that

can calculate astronomically the north and south nodes of the moon? Regular

astrology programs, including the vedic calculations, are not 100% accurate when

compared to JPL data. For now, I use Starry Night planetarium software and

Solar Fire Gold astrology software to figure out the true positioning of the

nodes. With Solar Fire Gold, or any astrology program, I calculate when the

nodes will be conjunct with the Sun, take the data produced, and plug the data

into the Starry Night program to get the true node positions.

 

Any thoughts or a better way of calculating the data for this information?

Thanks everyone.

 

David-Uriel

[Guest guest]

At 02:43 PM 7/22/09 -0000, David-Uriel wrote:

>I'd like to ask you all if anyone is aware of a specific software program

that can calculate astronomically the north and south nodes of the moon?

Regular astrology programs, including the vedic calculations, are not 100%

accurate when compared to JPL data...

 

Hi David,

 

I don't think this type of calculation is possible. The authors of the Betz

(sidereal-Lahiri) Ephemeris state on page 3 that the position of the nodes

can only be known when the Moon is on the ecliptic plane which happens

twice every revolution of the moon around the earth. For their ephemeris

the authors used an interpolation method to give positions they say are

somewhat more correct than the usual mean or true nodes calculated by

astrology programs.

 

Therese

[Guest guest]

Quote Therese: I don't think this type of calculation is possible. The authors

of the Betz (sidereal-Lahiri) Ephemeris state on page 3 that the position of the

nodes can only be known when the Moon is on the ecliptic plane which happens

twice every revolution of the moon around the earth. End Quote.

 

Hi All, This seems broadly akin to the Aries Point of the Tropical Zodiac. Of

course, if we waited until the following spring to re-calculate the new/next

Aries Point, that would mean that we never completed the last 1/60th of a degree

of the Sign of Pisces but would instead jump to zero Aries. In fact, the Aries

Point is recalculated (for the Tropical Zodiac) for in-between dates by

following an agreed-upon convention.

 

It would seem that as long as a similar agreed-upon math convention was used for

the Moons nodal axis that we could arrive at a consensus. This wouldn't be much

different for practical purposes than all of the ways in which different

software programs now approximate the nodal axis position. Then, we have to ask

the question, " What difference does it make as to exactly where this point is in

empty space except for when we measure conjunctions with another body, past,

present or future? " Of course, we could go to all kinds of ridiculous lengths

such as worrying about the parallax node position.

 

Just some thoughts. Its good to see the list active again. Dave

[Guest guest]

Hi Dave,

 

Thanks for your response. Some of the regulars here have been hanging out

on Michael Erlewine's ACT Discussion Forum

http://actastrology.com/index.php where there have been some interesting

discussions, especially under the Hellenistic topic. There are a few

sidereal topics that were active for awhile, but these have been silent

lately. Summer seems to bring the discussion doldrums. I think I remember

seeing a post or two of yours there.

 

Therese

 

>At 09:18 PM 7/27/09 -0000, Dave Monroe wrote:

>....This seems broadly akin to the Aries Point of the Tropical Zodiac. Of

course, if we waited until the following spring to re-calculate the

new/next Aries Point, that would mean that we never completed the last

1/60th of a degree of the Sign of Pisces but would instead jump to zero

Aries. In fact, the Aries Point is recalculated (for the Tropical Zodiac)

for in-between dates by following an agreed-upon convention.

>

>It would seem that as long as a similar agreed-upon math convention was

used for the Moons nodal axis that we could arrive at a consensus. This

wouldn't be much different for practical purposes than all of the ways in

which different software programs now approximate the nodal axis position.

Then, we have to ask the question, " What difference does it make as to

exactly where this point is in empty space except for when we measure

conjunctions with another body, past, present or future? " Of course, we

could go to all kinds of ridiculous lengths such as worrying about the

parallax node position.

>

>Just some thoughts. Its good to see the list active again. Dave