Rising signs, explained
Your Rising sign, or Ascendant, is the zodiac sign that was coming up over the eastern horizon at the moment you were born. Astrologers read it as your first impression and your instinctive way of approaching new situations.
Why you need your birth time
As the Earth turns, all twelve signs rise over the horizon in a single day, so each one is rising for about two hours on average. Two people born on the same day can have different Rising signs, and a birth time that's off by even a few minutes can change it if you were born near a switch. That's why our birth chart tool tells you when your Rising sign is close to the edge.
The two hours is only an average. Because the zodiac is tilted relative to the equator, some signs rise quickly and others slowly, and the effect gets stronger the farther you are from the equator. Here's how long each sign takes to rise in three cities:
| Sign | New York | London | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | 1 hr 11 min | 52 min | 2 hr 23 min |
| Taurus | 1 hr 26 min | 1 hr 9 min | 2 hr 25 min |
| Gemini | 1 hr 54 min | 1 hr 46 min | 2 hr 19 min |
| Cancer | 2 hr 22 min | 2 hr 31 min | 1 hr 58 min |
| Leo | 2 hr 33 min | 2 hr 50 min | 1 hr 34 min |
| Virgo | 2 hr 31 min | 2 hr 50 min | 1 hr 20 min |
| Libra | 2 hr 31 min | 2 hr 50 min | 1 hr 20 min |
| Scorpio | 2 hr 33 min | 2 hr 50 min | 1 hr 34 min |
| Sagittarius | 2 hr 22 min | 2 hr 31 min | 1 hr 58 min |
| Capricorn | 1 hr 54 min | 1 hr 46 min | 2 hr 19 min |
| Aquarius | 1 hr 26 min | 1 hr 9 min | 2 hr 25 min |
| Pisces | 1 hr 11 min | 52 min | 2 hr 23 min |
The twelve Rising signs
Aries rising
People often meet Aries rising as energetic and straightforward.
Taurus rising
People often meet Taurus rising as calm and reassuring.
Gemini rising
People often meet Gemini rising as friendly, talkative and quick.
Cancer rising
People often meet Cancer rising as warm and a little reserved.
Leo rising
People often meet Leo rising as warm, expressive and self-assured.
Virgo rising
People often meet Virgo rising as attentive and modest.
Libra rising
People often meet Libra rising as charming and considerate.
Scorpio rising
People often meet Scorpio rising as calm on the surface with a lot going on underneath.
Sagittarius rising
People often meet Sagittarius rising as cheerful and candid.
Capricorn rising
People often meet Capricorn rising as poised and self-controlled.
Aquarius rising
People often meet Aquarius rising as friendly yet hard to pin down.
Pisces rising
People often meet Pisces rising as soft-spoken and sympathetic.
Common questions
What is a Rising sign?
Your Rising sign (Ascendant) is the zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the exact time and place you were born. In Western astrology it describes your first impression and how you approach new situations.
Is the Rising sign more important than the Sun sign?
Neither is more important. Astrologers read the Sun as your core self and the Rising sign as how you meet the world. Many people find their Rising sign explains why they don't feel like a typical example of their Sun sign.
Can my Rising sign be the same as my Sun sign?
Yes. If you were born around sunrise, the Sun was on the eastern horizon, so your Sun and Rising sign are often the same. Astrologers call this a double sign, like double Leo.
How do I find my Rising sign?
You need your birth date, exact birth time and birth place. Enter them in our free birth chart tool; it calculates your Rising sign privately in your browser.