Great at Every Price

Professional Software for Western Astrology by Hank Friedman

Introductory Remarks This article was inspired by the many great professional astrology programs at all price points. "You get what you pay for" simply doesn't apply here, since even the least expensive programs have many features lacking in the most expensive programs! (Of course, the pricier programs also have their own unique features, too.) I decided to present the information on these programs in two different sections: the first focuses on the unique capabilities of each program, and the second shows a table examining many of the features that programs have in common. In the table, I list in blue the programs that have the best implementation of each feature, with the all of the programs listed best first. For example, while most programs offer eclipse mapping, only two show the path of totality as it actually exists (as a wide path and not a line). [I've also started a new series of articles focusing on how specific features compare in different programs. You can read these articles by clicking here.] Please note that programs that have the most features in common with other programs fare best in the table. That's because I only list functions that are present in at least two programs. (If I didn't use this criterion, then there would be a great many rows in the table where one program showed up in the Yes column and all of the rest in the No column.) But the weakness of this approach is that programs with many unique features, like Millennium, will not do as well, because many of its strengths are not found in other programs. As I said previously, no matter what the pricing is for each program, they are often quite comparable in capabilities. There are four price tiers of professional astrology programs: $150 - $190 tier: Janus 4.1 and ZET Geo $249 - $300 tier: Regulus Platinum, Millennium, and Kepler $360 - $400 tier: Solar Fire Gold and Win*Star Pro $650 tier: Sirius 1.2 [Note: all of the above prices are list prices. I provide most of these programs as discounted prices.] All of the programs mentioned herein have excellent accuracy*, a full time-change atlas for the World, and all of the basic calculations: birth charts, progressed charts, directed charts, composite charts, harmonic charts, biwheels, triwheels, dials, asteroids, Uranian points, Solar Returns, Lunar Returns, and midpoint listings and trees. They also all have research capabilities, can create ephemeride (both tables and graphic ephemeride) and local space charts, animate chart wheels, and display tables of dignities, aspects, inter-aspects, planetary hours, fixed stars, and Arabic Parts.

One additional note: many people are happy with smaller programs that still are quite powerful but don't have quite as many features as the programs mentioned in this article. If you would like to explore the top two of these, please click on their names: TimePassages and AstrolDeluxe, to see my reviews of both programs.

The Unique Strengths of the top Astrology Software Programs Note: Every program in this article has many unique features. It is beyond the scope of this article to mention all of them. Please read my full reviews, provided as links at the end of each section, to learn more about each program. And feel free to email me for help in getting the right one for your needs. Solar Fire Gold ($360) my favorite program offers unparalleled ease-of-use, great interactivity (e.g. while viewing charts, it's simple to change which planets are displayed, create new aspect sets, etc.), superlative hit lists & Time Maps (can include eclipses, ingresses, void-of-course, stations, and much more), a stunning Page Designer to easily create pages of charts, tables, etc., the powerful capacity to search both chart files and time for astrological configurations (e.g. Saturn peregrine AND Saturn NOT Conjunct the Moon), and the best Eclipse search. Read my published review of Solar Fire Gold by clicking here. Kepler 7 ($300) has exceptional astromapping features (including the first theme maps, map lines for minor bodies and minor aspects, and orbs around lines), diverse Vedic capabilities, many interpretive reports builtin, the best selection of add-on astrology reports, 47 basic lessons in astrology, unique theme-based transit graphs (e.g. the varying likelihood of good luck, accidents, romance, etc.), and a set of extensive natal, predictive, and synastry modeling tools, with the capability (albeit labor-intensive) to create new models. Read my published review of Kepler 7.0 by clicking here. Sirius 1.2 ($650) has Kepler's features plus a great Rectification module using life events to graph likely birth times, a wide array of Hellenistic capabilities (including Time Lords), excellent Huber features e.g. an analysis of Huber patterns, extensive Fixed Star and Asteroid reports, the largest (and most accurate) timechange atlas, a Business Manager module for keeping track of client/session information (e.g. duration of appointments, notes, contact numbers, etc.), and "Integrated Listings" e.g. showing a table of planetary positions and aspects for a lifetime of Solar Returns. Read my review of Sirius by clicking here. Janus ($149) has an amazing price, and great Horary, Electional and Traditional astrology modules (with chart rotation, detailed results, etc.), delineations for a huge number of astro-map lines, the easiest chart wheel designer, an extensive bibliography for techniques, unique dynamic searches (e.g. for out-of-bounds planets, the Super Moon, and declinational searches), primary directions, alternate coordinate system charts, the best eclipse maps, extensive natal, transit, and compatibility reports, and fine Cosmobiology tools (e.g. a natal, transit, & Solar Arc tridial). Read my published review of Janus by clicking here. Millennium ($299) introduces pioneering predictive methods including a unique cumulative graph of predictive cycles (i.e. shows the sum of positive cycles above the sum of negative cycles for a huge set of predictive techniques), the Time Tunnel circular graphic ephemeris, impeccable time graphs of astronomical factors (e.g. speed, distance, etc. for any planet), lightning fast searches for stellia or other major planetary patterns (e.g. Grand Trines), and very powerful & easy-to-use modeling tools. Plus video tutorials for every program function. Read my published review of Millennium by clicking here. Win*Star Pro ($399.95) offers advanced astromapping features, e.g. its Theme Editor enables the creation of new map theme lines according to your own criteria, the best astrological calendar, a Live Local Space chart showing cities around a local space wheel; a dedicated Search module (with synodic & cycle searches, beautifully formatted progressed and transit search pages), a sophisticated ephemeris generation module (e.g. can include planetary pictures, midpoints, etc.), and an Around the Wheel tool for quickly finding transit, progressed, etc. cycles of any planet. You can read my preliminary review by clicking here. ZET Geo ($189) has superb astromapping and rectification capabilities, up to 7 concentric rings that you can animate simultaneously, the ability to add a huge number of extra points in charts and predictive tools, lovely astronomical functions, a powerful programming language that enables one to do complex time and chart searches, new predictive techniques, and many wonderful tables and graphs including a house system table depicting the placement of chart points in each house & conjunct each house cusp for up to 28 house systems. ZET requires a lot of effort to learn and to use, so try the free ZET lite first to get used to its

interface. Read my Mountain Astrologer review of ZET Geo by clicking here. Regulus Platinum Professional ($249) is phenomenally versatile. It has the most complete set of Huber features, plus very powerful modules for Vedic, Hellenistic, Arabic Parts (400+), Fixed Stars, Asteroids, and Medieval Astrology. Regulus offers a fine astrological calendar, chart rectification, a top-notch transit graph, ability to re-view any screens created -- even from months ago, a research module allowing and/or searches, great extra-ring charts, and well done wheel and page designers. It's astromapping and eclipse map features are superb, and there are many more functions, too. Read my reviews of both the previous version and the current version by clicking here. *Kepler and Sirius 1.0 have less precision in calculating progressed hits in their tables and reports than other programs. Sirius 1.1 fixed this issue. I created the following table in order to address a more subtle attribute of astrology programs: how easy are they to learn to use, and how much does their design augment their actual capabilities. I wrote an article: The Value of the User Interface in Astrology Software, which explains how I evaluated each program. You can read the article by clicking here. User Interface Rating Best Solar Fire Gold, Janus Good Regulus, Sirius Ok Kepler, Win*Star Pro, Millennium, ZET Geo

The ability to import and export chart files is very important. Astrologers may want to switch to a new program or simply want to run two or more different astrology programs, without having to enter all of the birth charts over again. While all of the programs in the left column of the table below can import and export Quick*Chart format files (which is a universal exchange format for astrology programs), the programs in the right column can export to some file formats, but not in the Quick*Charts format. Chart File Importing and Exporting Import and Export Sirius, Solar Fire Gold, Janus, Regulus, ZET Geo, Win*Star Pro Import and Partial Export* Kepler, Millennium

As mentioned earlier, the following table only includes features that are present in at least two different company's programs. Programs whose names are shown in blue in a specific row have the best implementation of the feature indicated, with the best listed first. Features Shared by the Professional-Level Programs Feature Page Designer Wheel Designer Yes Solar Fire Gold, Janus, Sirius, Regulus, Kepler, Millennium Janus, Regulus, Solar Fire Gold Kepler, Sirius, ZET Geo not a discrete module Partially No Win*Star Pro, ZET Geo Win*Star Pro, Millennium

Astro Mapping Features

Basic Astromapping Astromap lines for midpoints/aspects Eclipse Mapping

Janus, Sirius, Kepler, Regulus, Win*Star Pro, ZET Geo, Solar Fire Gold Janus, Sirius, Kepler, Regulus, Win*Star Pro, Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo Janus, Regulus Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo, Millennium, Sirius, Win*Star Pro, Kepler

Millennium2 Millennium

Theme Maps

Win*Star Pro3, Regulus3, Kepler, Sirius

Solar Fire Gold, Janus, Millennium2, ZET Geo

Predictive Features Astro-Calendar Daily Scan Graphic (showing planets on angles, at degrees, exact aspects, etc.) Radial Ephemeris (Time Tunnel showing events concentrically) Predictive Hit Lists Win*Star Pro, Solar Fire Gold, Regulus, Sirius, Millennium Win*Star Pro, Regulus Kepler, Janus, ZET Geo Sirius, Kepler, Millennium, Janus, Solar Fire Gold Sirius, Kepler, Janus, Win*Star Pro, Solar Fire Gold Sirius & Kepler 4 ZET Geo4, Millennium5 Janus6, Sirius/Kepler7 ZET Geo8, Millennium9, Win*Star Pro20 Sirius/Kepler, Regulus, Janus, Win*Star Pro, Millennium13 Solar Fire, Janus, Win*Star Pro, Regulus

Millennium, Regulus

Solar Fire Gold, Janus, Win*Star Pro, Regulus Regulus, Solar Fire Gold

Predictive Time Graph (one event per line) Boolean (AND/OR) Time Searches

Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo12

Predictive Modeling16

Millennium, Sirius, Kepler

Interpretations Natal Interpretations Transit interpretations Janus, Sirius, Kepler, Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo, Regulus Janus, Sirius, Kepler, Regulus, Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo Win*Star Pro, Millennium Win*Star Pro, Millennium

Compatibility interpretations

Janus, Solar Fire Gold, Sirius, Kepler

Win*Star Pro, Millennium, Regulus, ZET Geo Sirius, Kepler, Win*Star Pro, Millennium, Regulus Sirius, Kepler, Win*Star Pro, Millennium, Regulus, Janus ZET Geo Millennium2 Regulus Win*Star Pro Janus18, Kepler, Win*Star Pro, Millennium

Midpoint interpretations

Janus, Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo

Firdaria interpretations

Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo

Astromapping interpretations Fixed Star interpretations

Solar Fire Gold, Janus, Sirius, Kepler,

Sirius, Regulus Platinum19

Solar Fire Gold, Zet Geo

Alternate Schools of Astrology Hellenistic techniques Medieval techniques Huber charting Sirius, Regulus, Janus Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo, Kepler Sirius, Regulus, Janus, Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo, Kepler Regulus, Sirius Kepler Millennium, Win*Star Pro Millennium, Win*Star Pro Solar Fire Gold, Janus, ZET Geo, Millennium Win*Star Pro, Millennium, Janus, ZET Geo

Vedic Astrology

Sirius, Kepler, Regulus

Solar Fire Gold

Additional Features Popup Wheel -- chart wheel(s) visible on top of other windows Table comparing placement by different house systems Rectify using life events Auto-run sets of jobs Solar Fire Gold, Regulus, Sirius Kepler, Janus, Win*Star Pro, Millennium, ZET Geo Solar Fire Gold, Janus, Millennium, Win*Star Pro Solar Fire Gold10, Regulus21, Janus, Win*Star Pro Win*Star Pro, Janus, Regulus Millennium, ZET Geo

Regulus, Zet Geo, Kepler, Sirius

ZET Geo, Sirius, Millennium, Kepler

Solar Fire Gold11, Kepler, Sirius

Art Wheels Astrological glossary Boolean (AND/OR) Chart Searches15 Multiple charts per page

Regulus1, Solar Fire Gold, Kepler, Sirius Sirius, Kepler, Win*Star Pro, Janus, Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo, Regulus Solar Fire Gold, Regulus, Win*Star Pro, Janus, ZET Geo12 Solar Fire Gold 12+ Janus 10 Regulus 6 Millennium - can design pages w many charts Kepler & Sirius 4

Win*Star Pro17

Janus, ZET Geo, Millennium Millennium Sirius, Kepler, Millennium13

Win*Star Pro 2

ZET Geo14

Frequently Updated Sirius, Regulus, Solar Fire Gold, ZET Geo, Janus

Win*Star Pro, Millennium, Kepler

Footnotes: 1. Regulus Platinum is the only program that allows you to import and use any image on your computer in an Art Wheel. 2. Astro-mapping only with add-on Locality Maps ($249); does not offer midpoint or aspect lines. 3. Win*Star Pro and Regulus are the only programs that allows you to edit Theme Maps, and create new Theme Maps. 4. Kepler & Sirius can only create hit lists for transits or progressions (one technique per screen), the listings cannot be sorted, and in Kepler, there are no astrological glyphs, only text abbreviations. ZET Geo can create hit lists for (one technique per screen), the listings cannot be sorted, and there are no astrological glyphs, only text abbreviations. The progressed hit lists are imprecise (at times a few weeks off). 5. Millennium's hit list does not collate hits in entering, exact, and leaving format, and doesn't have glyphs in the hit list itself, but it can graphically display and list entering, exact, and leaving times for individual events. 6. Janus' Time Graph does not show dates for each event. 7. Kepler and Sirius have Time Graphs that only show exact dates. 8. ZET's predictive Time Graph does shows dates for each event one at a time in a separate window by clicking on that event's line onscreen. 9. Millennium does not offer a Time Graph showing single events, one per line, but it has an excellent graph showing the cumulative effects of positive and negative events separately, and also has a Semenko diagram that depicts a graphic for individual transit/progressed/directed/profected events on a timeline (without dates and times). 10. Life Event Rectification only with JigSaw add-on ($350) 11. Solar Fire Golds Astrologers Assistant allows recording and detailed editing of any number of autojobs. 12. ZET's Chart Search and Event Search require learning the program's Astrological formula description language.

13. Millennium's add-on Super Search ($299) offers Boolean Chart and Event Searches. 14. ZET Geo version 9, which is currently available in Russian and will be available in the autumn of 2009 in English will display up to 7 wheels onscreen at the same time. 15. Boolean means the ability to combine two or more searches with AND or OR statements. E.g. find the dates when Mars is in Aries AND Mars is square the Sun. Or find charts where the Moon is in the 8th house OR in Scorpio. 16. Predictive modeling means creating a set of rules (e.g. when transiting Jupiter trines the Sun, add one point, when Saturn conjuncts the Sun, subtract two points), in order to build a model of a specific life theme via transits or other predictive methods. Once the model is build, one can run it on any chart to see the ups and downs of a specific theme in the person's life. To create a model takes a great deal of time and effort, and so while this is a powerful feature, most people will not use it. 17. Win*Star Pro offers a few Art pages built-in, with a larger set available for purchase. 18. In Janus, you can look up very brief Fixed Star interpretations in its Planetarium module, but there is no point-and-click pop-up interpretations. 19. Regulus Platinum has Fixed Star interpretations and a report with conjunctions to natal points. 20. Win*Star Pro's transit graph is well executed except that it omits events when the specified time range does not include an entering, exact, or leaving date. Click here for a fuller description. 21. Regulus Platinum offers an automatic rectification feature that can be enabled for an additional fee of $149.