Moon, Sun, and Rising Signs Explained: Insights from an Astrologer

There’s more to it than you think. That’s why we called in an expert.

The sun sign is the *it girlie* of the “big three” elements in astrology.

But do you know about your moon sign and rising sign?

We chatted with an astrologer to understand what they are and how to calculate them.

According to Olga Verkhotina — astrologer and personal coach — the big three in astrology are your three most significant chart elements:

sun sign
moon sign
the ascendant (aka rising sign)

“While a natal chart contains so many more intricate details beyond just three elements, the big three is a way to determine the main highlights that make up your personality and overall temperament,” Verkhotina says.

Verkhotina explains that a rising sign is the zodiac sign that falls at the beginning of your First House — basically, the beginning of your natal chart.

“The First House in astrology is associated with a person’s identity, individual activity, even their appearance, and the sign that houses that theme gives its characteristics,” she says.

“Knowing your rising sign describes the way others may perceive you, the way your behavior comes across, as well as how you approach new situations in life.”

How to figure out your rising sign

You’ll need: date, time and place of birth.

“Knowing the accurate time is important here because even 10 minutes can make a difference in the sign,” Verkhotina explains.

“Once you have the data, you can trust astrology software to calculate it for you. There are a lot of natal chart calculators online, so you can just search ‘rising sign calculator,’” Verkhotina says.

Pro tip: Verkhotina suggests reading horoscopes from your rising sign instead of your sun sign, saying it will likely give more personalized insights on which areas of your life might be impacted by current cosmic events.

“A moon sign describes the position of the moon on the zodiac wheel at the moment of your birth,” Verkhotina says.

She explains that the moon in astrology symbolizes:

“The moon sign helps you better understand how these themes demonstrate themselves in your life,” Verkhotina says.

How to figure out your moon sign

Unlike the rising sign, you don’t have to have the precise time of birth to know your moon sign, although Verkhotina says it’s still recommended.

You can also use an online calculator to find your moon sign or refer to the ephemeris — a table showing the daily positions of planets.

Verkhotina describes the sun sign as the most important planet in your chart.

“It’s the center of your vitality, your ego, consciousness, and individuality at its core. That’s why it’s the most commonly known element in astrology,” she says.

It represents the zodiac sign the sun was in at the time of your birth, which Verkhotina says gives your individuality certain qualities associated with its specific sign.

“It’s important to understand that although the sun is a huge element in astrology, it doesn’t cover the nuances of one’s character,” Verkhotina explains.

Instead, she says it just represents overall traits.

Verkhotina adds that the specifics of your character are covered in the rest of your astrological chart. “This is why sometimes no two leos are the same,” she says.

How to figure out your sun sign

This one is easy peasy — you don’t have to have your time or place of birth.

“The sun cycle is very similar every year, so you can look it up by the date, month and year of your birth. Each sign corresponds to a calendar date that year,” Verkhotina says.

Here’s each astro sign, in a nutshell, according to Verkhotina.

Aries: Active, impulsive, quick, direct.
Taurus: Persistent, stable, patient, enduring, cautious, slow.
Gemini: Light, mobile, sociable, curious, quick-witted, resourceful, easily adaptable.
Cancer: Emotional, sensitive, vulnerable, introverted.
Leo: Generous, noble, passionate, bright, open, artistic, stubborn.
Virgo: Rational, hardworking, diligent, caring, modest, economical, critical.
Libra: Graceful, aestheticism, refined manners, tact, diplomacy.
Scorpio: Tenacious, reserved, secretive, determined, witty.
Sagittarius: Lively, active, enthusiastic, purposeful, able to see perspective.
Capricorn: Strict, serious, disciplined, practical, prudent, conservative, organizer.
Aquarius: Democratic, freedom-loving, idealistic, team player.
Pisces: Loving, trusting, compassionate, sensitive, irrational, intuitive.