Solution Data for Master List
"How to determine what astrological calculations are most accurate"
Anyone who has visited JPL Small-Body Database Browser (SBDB) or Horizons knows about the solution data upon which the ephemeris results are based. With new telescopic observations of the discovered objects, the orbital cycle becomes better known – hence, an updated solution periodically. Each solution is dated with the time that it occurs, with the total number of observations used in that solution and with the data-arc span of when the observations began up to the present year.
As you can see, 85% of the objects that we use in our Master List have been updated this year (2024) with 56% within the past two months. All of the charts I’ve posted are within the past week or so, so they reflect the latest JPL solution data. Astrodienst, as you might also know, is quite lethargic in updating asteroid files. Just take a look at their Dropbox folders here. Many haven’t been updated in 10+ years! Is this what you expect from an organization that promotes itself as producing the “World’s Best Horoscopes”? The “best,” how so? Surely not with respect to accuracy and precision. And, what’s with those skimpy aspect grids? Or, with the refusal to calculate the actual apsides and nodes for charts?
We present a list of the objects (excluding Sun to Pluto, since there are no updated solutions for those) that we include with any natal or event chart created, and you can determine yourself by clicking on the SBDB and Horizons links whether or not the list is accurate. Every month or so, we’ll update the list for paid subscribers with the latest changes to the asteroids. It’s date-sorted, so the most recent are at the top. This way the user can know who is being straightforward or not concerning what is the “best,” mediocre or worst with respect to ephemeris results.
The list includes: Classification, Object, Horizons ID, SBDB link, Horizons link, Solution Date, UT, # Obs. used, Data-arc span, Horizons Epoch and Period (years). For the current Epoch elements, click on the SBDB link for any object.
In the Products section you’ll see this list available for $10.00 to anyone, but it’s included, as well as the other features (Planetary Discoveries, Celebrity Charts, etc.) for paid subscribers ($8/month), about the cost of a meal at McDonald’s. The question is: “What do astrologers value more, an unhealthy meal or accurate and precise data to work with?”
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Future of Geocentric Astrology to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.