Planet Degrees

In astrology, each planet occupies a specific degree within a zodiac sign at the time of your birth. The degree tells you how far into a sign the planet is — from 0° to 29°59' (30 degrees per sign).

Why Planetary Degrees Matter

1. Strength (Maturity/Avasthas)

• A planet just entering a sign (0–1°) is like a newborn — not mature.

• A planet in the middle (10–20°) is strong and stable — peak performance.

• A planet near 29° is about to change signs, and may feel restless or unstable.

2. Planet vs Planet — Who’s Stronger?

• In a planetary war (Graha Yuddha) or conjunction, the planet with the higher degree is considered stronger (except with the Sun — it's special).

• This helps determine dominance in conjunctions.

3. Combustion

• The degrees between the Sun and a planet determine if the planet is combust (overpowered by the Sun). E.g., Mercury within ~12° of the Sun.

Key Tips for Reading Degrees

Degree Range	Meaning
0°–1°	Infant stage, new energy
2°–10°	Growing strength
11°–20°	Peak performance
21°–29°	Maturity, completion, fading
29°	“Karmic degree” – critical decision-making, karmic lessons

Lets read planetary degrees in a Birth Chart

Let’s say you have a chart showing:

Planet	Sign	Degree
Sun	Leo	10°12′
Moon	Taurus	27°45′
Mars	Aries	2°03′
Venus	Virgo	15°20′

You’d interpret it like this:

• Sun (10°) – Strong and stable in the heart of Leo.

• Moon (27°) – Very mature, possibly restless, about to move to Gemini.

• Mars (2°) – Young energy, raw and impulsive.

• Venus (15°) – In Virgo, moderately strong, but note Venus is debilitated in Virgo — so the degree supports steadiness, but the sign weakens it.

Hope the article helped you understand the concept.