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Astral Atlas
Wiki concept · Astronomy & calculated points

True node

Also called True North Node

A node calculated from the Moon’s instantaneous orbital geometry; it can briefly move direct despite the mean node’s retrograde motion.

In this entry

Word origin · etymology

Historical astronomical model label.

True is the conventional counterpart to mean, indicating an instant-dependent rather than averaged node. The adjective is part of the model's name.

Swiss Ephemeris: programming manual ↗

How we know · epistemology

Instantaneous orbital model

The calculation uses the Moon's instantaneous orbital geometry, retaining variations omitted by a mean model. True names that modeling choice; it does not establish that this node convention produces truer astrological interpretations.

Swiss Ephemeris: programming manual ↗

Connected concepts

Terms used in this explanation

These links connect subjects and terminology. They do not establish a shared historical origin.

Sources & provenance

Use the citations beside each section to distinguish a calculation convention, a historical teaching and an editorial example.

Find these sources across the wiki →

  1. Swiss Ephemeris: programming manual ↗