In
astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the
Sun,
Moon,
planets, the
astrological aspects, and
sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's
birth. The word
horoscope is derived from
Greek words meaning "a look at the hours" (
horoskopos, pl.
horoskopoi, or "marker(s) of the hour.") Other commonly used names for the horoscope in English include astrological chart, astro-chart, celestial map, sky-map, star-chart, cosmogram, vitasphere, radical chart, radix, chart wheel, or simply chart.
It is used as a method of
divination regarding events relating to the point in time it represents and forms the basis of the
horoscopic traditions
of astrology. However, no studies have shown any scientific support for
the accuracy of horoscopes, and the methods used to make
interpretations are generally considered
pseudo-scientific.
In common usage,
horoscope often refers to an
astrologer's interpretation, usually based on a system of
Sun sign astrology; or on the calendar significance of an event, as in
Chinese astrology. In particular, many newspapers and magazines carry predictive columns based on celestial influences in relation to the
zodiacal placement of the Sun on the day of a person's birth, identifying the individual's
Sun sign or "star sign" based on the
tropical zodiac.