Understanding AstroConnexions - Design and Concepts

© Roger Pearson, 2016-2024

First things first

Let’s get things straight. AstroConnexions is an astrology app for the iPad/Mac/iPhone. It calculates astrology charts for people wishing to practice or study astrology. It doesn’t do predictions, or provide a sun-sign reading. It utilises the Swiss ephemeris so the astronomical calculations can be relied upon to be accurate. The focus of this post is the iPhone. Some screenshots are taken from an iPad – frequently there is no difference in the functionality/UI of the iPad or iPhone. Most of the underlying code is the same, probably 99%.

The main idea

The main idea behind the design of AC is to make it easy to do those day-to-day things that an amateur or professional astrologer, from a beginner to a seasoned pro would do. If you’ve previously used an astrology desktop program on a Windows platform you’ll find AC is simple yet surprisingly powerful. If you’re new to astrology software please take your time to get to know AC. It’ll be worth it!

******** AstroConnexions tor iPhone is designed to be used in portrait mode. ********

The main concept

Astrologers accept that the natal/radix chart or horary chart is the root of all calculations and that all further calculations (progressions, directions etc) are based on this fundamental concept. The radix is king! AC consistently maintains this throughout all its views. How?

The current natal chart view is never changed by AC whilst it is displayed on the main page. All other charts eg Solar Returns are derived from the natal. So you can be sure that you can always go back to the natal chart knowing that nothing has been altered. Of course the natal chart can be edited but any previously displayed derived chart will be updated by the change in the natal data. Natal charts are the only charts that can edited as all other charts are derived from the natal chart data. This is common practise in Astro software.

So let’s look at how AC takes this idea and utilises it.

Whenever a chart is selected to be viewed the display shown is always set to be Natal:

iPhone-12-screenshot
iPhone-12-screenshot

The screenshot shows what happens when a chart is selected from the Your Charts or Provided Charts chart list. Or when first launching AC for the iPhone. What is shown:

  • The chart itself – which reflect the values/text shown top left and top right.
  • The (single) Wheel button.
  • The Date and Time – bottom of the chart.
Chart Types

Chart Types

Einstein Natal

Einstein Natal

A bi-wheel chart will also show the date and time of progressions/directions/transits/returns but the natal chart is shown in an inside wheel, whilst the progressions/directions/transits/returns are shown on the outside wheel. Because we are showing progressions/directions/transits/returns to the natal chart the cusps displayed are always those of the natal chart.

Bi-wheel messge
Bi-wheel messge
Go forward/backward in time buttons
Go forward/backward in time buttons
Time Step Interval
Time Step Interval

Adjusting the date and time when a Natal chart is selected

This cannot be done as it’s against all the principles outlined previously. But often we want to see what will happen to the planets in the near future especially when examining a horary chart.

To do this tap the right arrow (go forward in time) when a Natal chart is selected. Nothing will happen to the Natal chart, but the selection will move to Transit. The Transit chart will be exactly the same as the Natal chart except now it can be manipulated in time.

Natal Chart Aspects

Natal chart aspects can be reviewed/examined when a Natal chart is selected. There are different ways to do this:

  • Traditional aspect grid – button
  • Chart aspect table, with Antiscia aspects – button
  • Fixed star aspects – button
  • Moon’s aspects – button
  • Chart aspect lines – middle of chart
  • Chart aspect speculum – chart data
iPhone Speculum Aspects
iPhone Speculum Aspects
Aspect Buttons
Aspect Buttons
Traditional Aspect Grid
Traditional Aspect Grid
Aspect Table
Aspect Table
Fixed Stars Aspects
Fixed Stars Aspects
Moon's Aspects Table
Moon's Aspects Table

All = all aspects, all planets/points

Trad = all traditional aspects (except parallels) with traditional planets/points. Useful for horary.

Trad. + Planets =  all traditional aspects with traditional planets + Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, (Sun, Moon – Pluto)

Sorting/Filter:

Orb = smallest Orb first

Applying = only applying aspects

By Planet = Planetary order: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus etc

Aspect = Conjunct, Square, Trine, Opposition (major aspects first), then followed by secondary aspects eg sextile

 

Similarly when any other type of chart is selected the aspects shown will reflect its state, ie either a single-wheel or bi-wheel.

So, for example, if a bi-wheel Secondary Progression is selected (from the left-hand side menu), the aspects calculated would be secondary progressions to the Natal/Radix chart. If a single-wheel Secondary Progression is selected the aspects would be calculated using the current positions of the secondary progressions.

For more information see:

FAQ page:

FAQ

The AC Knowledge Base:

AC Knowledge Base

AC Blog

AC Blog