Comments on the article - An Astrological House Formulary (by Michael P.

Munkasey)
THE PLACIDIAN HOUSE SYSTEM FORMULATION 1) Compute the RAMC, MC, and ASC in the normal manner. Use the MC as the cusp of the tenth house and the ASC as the cusp of the first house. This is a very fast converging algorithm adapted from a work by M. Vijayaraghavulu. 2) Determine the following house cusp intervals: H11 = RAMC + 30 ; H2 = RAMC + 120 H12 = RAMC + 60 ; H3 = RAMC + 150 3) Set the Semi-arc ratios: F11 = 1 3 ; F2 = 2 3 F12 = 2 3 ; F3 = 1 3 4) Compute the cuspal declinations: D11 = ARCSIN ( SIN e x SIN H11 ) ; D2 = ARCSIN ( SIN e x SIN H2 ) D12 = ARCSIN ( SIN e x SIN H12 ) ; D3 = ARCSIN ( SIN e x SIN H3 ) ======================================================================================== Note: This is an approximate declination as it is calculated based on OA (oblique ascension) instead of using RA (right ascension) of the cusp which is unknown at this (initial) stage.(For more details refer my Article mentioned below) ======================================================================================== 5) Compute the first intermediate values: A11 = F11 x ( ARCSIN ( TAN f x TAN D11 ) ) A12 = F12 x ( ARCSIN ( TAN f x TAN D12 ) ) A2 = F2 x ( ARCSIN ( TAN f x TAN D2 ) ) A3 = F3 x ( ARCSIN ( TAN f x TAN D3) ) 6) Compute the house cusp positions as follows: M11 = ARCTAN ( SIN A11 ( COS H11 x TAN D11) ) M12 = ARCTAN ( SIN A12 ( COS H12 x TAN D12) ) M2 = ARCTAN ( SIN A2 ( COS H2 x TAN D2) ) M3 = ARCTAN ( SIN A3 ( COS H3 x TAN D3) ) 7) Compute the intermediate house cusps: R11 = ARCTAN ( ( TAN H11 x COS M11 ) COS ( M11 + e) ) R12 = ARCTAN ( ( TAN H12 x COS M12 ) COS ( M12 + e) ) R2 = ARCTAN ( ( TAN H2 x COS M2 ) COS ( M2 + e) ) R3 = ARCTAN ( ( TAN H3 x COS M3 ) COS ( M3 + e) ) 8) Substitute: D11 = R11; D12 = R12; D2 = R2; and D3 = R3. Then repeat steps 5 thru 8 again. Substitute the R's for the D's a third time and repeat steps 5 thru 8. The answer for R on the third try is the cusp you desire (This is a wrong Step) ======================================================================================== Note: The values obtained for R11, R12, R2 & R3 are the longitude of the cusp (will be 0 to 360 Degree range). May be the above ArcTan will return (+/-90 deg). But the declination of the any cusp point will never exceed the value e (obliquity). Hence by Substituting Rs (longitude) for the D's (declination) will never converge to the correct value. Solution: Calculate the actual declination (say G) of the cusps from its calculated longitude(R) by using the formulas mentioned in step 4. G11 = ARCSIN ( SIN e x SIN R11 ) ; G2 = ARCSIN ( SIN e x SIN R2 ) G12 = ARCSIN ( SIN e x SIN R12 ) ; G3 = ARCSIN ( SIN e x SIN R3 ) Substitute: D11 = G11; D12 = G12; D2 = G2; and D3 = G3. i.e., substitute the G's for the D's and repeat steps 5 thru 8 until the difference between the previous D and latest G is very small. The answer for R at this stage is the cusp you desire. ======================================================================================== 9) Compute the individual house cusps as follows: C11 = R11 ; C5 = 180 + C11 C12 = R12 ; C6 = 180 + C12 C2 = R2 ; C8 = 180 + C2 C3 = R3 ; C9 = 180 + C3 ======================================================================================== Other tips: MC = ARCTAN ( TAN (RAMC) COS e ) ASC = ARCCOT (- ( (TAN f x SIN e) + (SIN RAMC x COS e) ) COS RAMC) ;where f is the latitude of the place Care should be taken for adjusting the signs & values returned from the above trigonometric functions/ formulas by using the basic trigonometric principles (i.e, verification of the quadrants & the corrections etc) ======================================================================================== Notes: For the formulation of equations and to know more mathematical/astronomy details refer my article Trigonometry behind the House Cusps Published in Journal for Advancement of Stellar Astrology (JASA) Vol.1 (2) Sept-Oct 2011 Pages 43-77. This article can be downloaded FREE from the Editors web site URL http://www.astroandrewkp.org/journal.php. Readers review/feedback may be send to the editor (astrojasa@gmail.com) and a copy to the Author (rp.clock@yahoo.com). GOOD LUCK!!

Review & Comments by: D.Senthilathiban

Email: rp.clock@yahoo.com