The Solar System is made up of all the planets that orbit the Sun, together with numerous moons, comets, asteroids, minor planets, and a large amount of dust and gas. Everything in the Solar System orbits, or revolves, around the Sun and each object has its own orbital cycle depending on its distance from the Sun. Your Birth Chart shows where these objects were positioned on the zodiac belt when you were born. Astrologers track when they will return to their birth position or make an angle to their birth position. These ‘Transits’ are used to predict and explain specific events and influences in your past, present and future, which can be helpful on your life journey.
| Solar System object | Orbital cycle | Age when object returns to birth position |
| Earth’s Moon | 27.3 days | Every month |
| Mercury | 88 days | Every 3 months |
| Venus | 225 days | Every 7.5 months |
| Mars | 687 days | Every 1.88 years |
| Jupiter | 11.86 years | 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 years |
| Saturn | 29.46 years | 28-29 years, 58-59 years, 88-89 years |
| Uranus | 84 years | 84 years (180 degrees at 41 years) |
| Neptune | 164 years | 28-30 years (60 degrees) 40-43 years (90 degrees) 55-57 years (120 degrees) |
| Pluto | 247.7 years | 21-24 years (60 degrees) 36-43 years (90 degrees) 56-60 years (120 degrees) |
| Chiron | 50.76 years | 50-51 years |
As shown in the table, some objects like the Earth’s Moon, return to birth position regularly throughout our lifetime, which means that these cycles become familiar and we know what to expect when certain phases come around. Slower-moving large objects return less often. Jupiter returns every 12 years, bringing growth spurts and new energy to fulfil your destiny. Saturn returns at least twice in a lifetime at critical times for claiming authority, taking personal responsibility and reaching maturity. It returns a third time around 90 years in the lives of wizened old souls.
Uranus has one return at 84 years of age. The Uranus opposition at 41 years is often associated with a call to freedom, which can manifest as a radical change in direction but is actually the person coming in touch with their core creative energy. This is a critical turning point, popularly known as the midlife crisis! Very slow-moving outer objects, like Neptune and Pluto, never return to their birth position during a human lifetime but they do form significant angles at Midlife and during Elder-life years. These planetary transits are important helpers in the journey to claim your power (Pluto) and to spiritualise your life (Neptune).
In Astrology, planetary cycles are the basis of predictive techniques that have supported human decision-making for centuries. If you are interested in knowing and understanding your time map, Astrotessa can produce this for you as part of the Yearly Forecast and Solar Return reading.
Wow that table and information is very useful! Thank you.