Degree

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A degree is 1/360th of the circumference of a circle. Its abbreviation is °. Astrological charts are divided into 360 degrees at which chart points can be located. The astrological signs are 12 divisions of these 360 degrees into portions of 30 degrees apiece, and in each sign, the degrees are numbered from 0-29°.

The degree itself is divided into 60 portions known as arc minutes, numbered from 0 to 59, and these are frequently mentioned as well for even greater precision. Seldom mentioned, but also of note, are arc seconds, which are 1/60th of an arc minute and numbered from 0 to 59.

It is quite possible to refer to a chart point's location by an absolute degree number from 0°-359°, but it is much more common to refer to a chart point's location by citing the sign, and the degree of the sign, at which the point is located. This is known as the zodiacal position.

The zodiacal position also includes the arc minute and arc second at which the chart point is located, but these are not always used or mentioned, depending on the amount of precision needed or desired.

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