Pollux is the brighter member of the familiar Castor–Pollux pair despite its Beta designation. The two stars do not share one exact longitude or latitude. A careful reading checks which twin a traditional passage or modern chart actually selects.
| IAU name | Pollux |
|---|---|
| Designation | Beta Geminorum · HR 2990 |
| Constellation | Gemini |
| Visual magnitude in IAU table | 1.16 |
| J2000 right ascension | 116.328958° |
| J2000 declination | 28.026199° |
| Tropical longitude on 1 Jan 2026 | 23.58° Cancer |
| Ecliptic latitude on 1 Jan 2026 | 6.69° |
Reading the coordinates
At the stated 2026 reference instant, the projected tropical position is 23.58° Cancer, with ecliptic latitude 6.69°. Its latitude is comparatively modest. Even here, a matching longitude is a one-dimensional test: check the exact orb and the full sky angle before describing the alignment.
Right ascension and declination locate Pollux on an equatorial sky map; the tropical position rotates and projects that J2000 direction into a dated ecliptic frame. Precession changes the printed zodiac longitude over centuries. It does not move the star from Gemini to a different astronomical constellation. This is why an undated “fixed degree” should be checked against its source.
A useful research question
Are the two stars being treated as a single symbol despite distinct coordinates? A clear answer identifies the named star, the date, and the method of comparison. Ptolemy’s surviving astrological discussion groups stars by constellation figure and assigns symbolic qualities; it is a historical text, not a measured guide to personal outcomes.
Test a recorded birth moment →
Position calculation
The IAU table identifies the named star and gives its right ascension and declination at J2000. Astronomy Engine rotates that direction to the true ecliptic and equinox of a chosen date. The displayed tropical longitude is the angle around the ecliptic; latitude records how far above or below that plane the star lies. The reference date on this page is 1 January 2026 at 12:00 UTC.
The calculation does not propagate individual stellar proper motion, parallax, or perspective effects. It is intended for modern reference dates, not ancient reconstructions. A planet sharing a projected longitude with a star can still be far away on the sky. The chart locator shows that full angular separation and limits automatic matches to stars within 40° of the ecliptic.