Astrology Aspects Explained: The Five Major Aspects
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Quick answer: An aspect is the angle between two planets, showing whether they help or pull against each other. The five major aspects are the conjunction (0°, merging), sextile (60°, opportunity), square (90°, friction and drive), trine (120°, easy talent) and opposition (180°, tug-of-war).
The five major aspects
| Aspect | Angle | Typical orb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conjunction | 0° | about 8° | Two energies fuse and amplify |
| Sextile | 60° | about 4–6° | A chance to cooperate, if you use it |
| Square | 90° | about 6–8° | Tension and friction that push growth |
| Trine | 120° | about 6–8° | Natural ease, sometimes taken for granted |
| Opposition | 180° | about 8° | Pull between two ends; find the balance |
What is an orb?
Planets rarely form an exact angle, so astrologers allow a margin called the orb. The closer to exact, the stronger the aspect. The Sun and Moon usually get wider orbs; slow outer planets get tighter ones.
Are "hard" aspects bad?
Squares and oppositions are called hard aspects, yet many high achievers have tight squares: friction forces action. Trines are easy, and can keep you comfortable. The useful question is "where can this tension go?", not "good or bad?"
Which planets matter most
A Moon–Saturn square (held-back feelings, a strong need for security) means something very different from a Mercury–Jupiter square (lots of ideas, a tendency to overpromise). Start with aspects between personal planets, then their aspects to Saturn and the outer planets.
FAQ
Are more aspects better?
No. Many aspects mean the planets interact a lot and life themes are tightly woven; a planet with few aspects acts more on its own.
What if one planet has both easy and hard aspects?
Both apply. That energy has an easy outlet and a place that needs work.
Do aspects work in synastry too?
Yes. Synastry reads the aspects between your planets and another person's in the same way. See the synastry guide in our compatibility section.