CET and a few other abbreviations represent the names of certain constellations that the Moon is straying into other than the zodiac constellations. These are explained on page 117 of the 2019 Old Farmer’s ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË edition, number 7.
AUR = Auriga CET = Cetus OPH = Ophiuchus ORI = Orion SEX = Sextans
Please note that the columns on the Left-Hand Calendar Pages, where you are seeing these extra abbreviations, refer to the Moon’s astronomical place — the Moon’s actual place in the night sky, and is useful for people who are skywatching. However, if you are looking for the Moon’s astrological place, to determine the best days for certain tasks, etc., then you will want to use the Moon’s Astrological Place table on page 225, which lists the zodiac sign that the Moon is in each day.
The (tropical) astrological and astronomical places differ slightly in part because of precession of the equinoxes, or the tiny wobble in Earth’s axis that has changed our view of the stars a bit. The Moon’s astronomical location refers to its position in one of several constellations (beyond the traditional 12), which have irregular borders. The Moon’s astrological position refers to its coordinates along the ecliptic, each 30-degree segment named for a constellation that was positioned there many, many years ago. The positions of the actual constellations have shifted a bit, because of precession, so that they no longer quite align with those 30-degree segments. Those segments, however, have retained their original names (the zodiac), which can be confusing.
Hi Deborah,
CET and a few other abbreviations represent the names of certain constellations that the Moon is straying into other than the zodiac constellations. These are explained on page 117 of the 2019 Old Farmer’s ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË edition, number 7.
AUR = Auriga
CET = Cetus
OPH = Ophiuchus
ORI = Orion
SEX = Sextans
Please note that the columns on the Left-Hand Calendar Pages, where you are seeing these extra abbreviations, refer to the Moon’s astronomical place — the Moon’s actual place in the night sky, and is useful for people who are skywatching. However, if you are looking for the Moon’s astrological place, to determine the best days for certain tasks, etc., then you will want to use the Moon’s Astrological Place table on page 225, which lists the zodiac sign that the Moon is in each day.
The (tropical) astrological and astronomical places differ slightly in part because of precession of the equinoxes, or the tiny wobble in Earth’s axis that has changed our view of the stars a bit. The Moon’s astronomical location refers to its position in one of several constellations (beyond the traditional 12), which have irregular borders. The Moon’s astrological position refers to its coordinates along the ecliptic, each 30-degree segment named for a constellation that was positioned there many, many years ago. The positions of the actual constellations have shifted a bit, because of precession, so that they no longer quite align with those 30-degree segments. Those segments, however, have retained their original names (the zodiac), which can be confusing.
Hope this helps!