Void of Course Moon Calendar

Written by Orbitarot · Sources: our own engine, positions checked against NASA JPL Horizons (method); place data GeoNames (CC BY 4.0); interpretations our own · Updated October 7, 2026

What void of course means

As the Moon moves through a sign, it makes aspects (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, opposition) to the other planets. After its last exact aspect in a sign, there is a stretch before it enters the next sign in which it makes no further major aspect. That stretch is the void of course period. The idea goes back to traditional horary astrology, and William Lilly described it in the 17th century; modern ephemerides that print void of course times made it popular.

Astrologers traditionally read a void Moon as a time when things started tend to "come to nothing" or turn out differently from plans, and many people avoid launching things then. Others use it for rest, routine and reflection. It is a symbolic timing convention, not a measured effect.

How long it lasts, with an example

Void periods range from a few minutes to more than a day. Example: the Moon enters Taurus, makes a trine to Saturn at 14:20 on Tuesday, and makes no other major aspect before it enters Gemini at 09:05 on Wednesday. It is void of course from 14:20 Tuesday to 09:05 Wednesday, almost 19 hours. If instead it had made a sextile to Jupiter at 08:40 on Wednesday, the void period would last only 25 minutes.

Since the Moon changes sign about every two and a half days, there are roughly 12 to 13 void periods a month.

Why calendars disagree

Void of course tables do not all match, because astrologers choose different rules.

• Which planets count. Traditional astrology uses only the seven visible bodies, Sun to Saturn. Most modern calendars also count Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. With fewer planets, the last aspect often comes earlier and the void period is longer.
• Which aspects count. Most use the five major aspects; some add minor ones like the quincunx, which shortens voids.
• Time zone. The moments are the same worldwide, but a void that starts at 23:00 in New York starts at 04:00 the next day in London.

Our calendar uses the five major aspects to all planets from the Sun to Pluto, as most modern calendars do, and shows times in your time zone. A switch above the list counts only the Sun to Saturn instead, the traditional rule, so you can compare with a calendar that uses it. The rule in use is printed above the list.

Using the calendar

The current status at the top tells you whether the Moon is void now and, if so, when it ends and which sign it enters. The monthly list gives every void period with its last aspect. Pair it with the moon phase calendar and the planetary hours if you like to time things by the Moon, or with the retrograde calendar for the slower cycles. For a quick question while you wait, the yes or no tarot is one click away.

Questions

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