Sidereal astrology is the system of astrology used by some Western and all Jyotish astrologers who base their interpretation around the use of the sidereal zodiac. Its primary feature is that the signs of the zodiac align to the sky constellations of the same name. The signs therefore run between dates which are different from the tropical zodiac used in the West. For example, Aries runs from March 21 to April 20 in the tropical zodiac but extends from April 14 to May 14 in the sidereal (although the precise dates may vary depending on the sidereal system used).

In effect, in most Western astrology the link between sign and sky constellation is perceived differently than in Sidereal astrology.

It was introduced to the West by the Irish astrologer Cyril Fagan in 1944 and is practiced by a minority of Western astrologers.

A nakshatra or lunar mansion is one of the 27 or 28 divisions of the sky, identified by the prominent star(s) in them, that the Moon passes through during its monthly cycle, as used in Hindu astronomy and astrology. Therefore, each represents a division of the ecliptic similar to the zodiac (13°20’ each instead of the 30° for each zodiac sign). The orbit of the moon is 27.3 days, so the Moon takes approximately one day to pass through each nakshatra.

The starting point for the nakshatras is the point on the ecliptic directly opposite to the star Spica called Chitr? in Sanskrit (other slightly-different definitions exist). It is called Mesh?di or the "start of Aries". The ecliptic is divided into each of the nakshatras eastwards starting from this point.

Electional astrology is a branch found in most systems of astrology. In western culture one can see remnants of this in ceremonies such as the cutting of a ribbon to open a new building. This is traditionally done at the auspicious moment for the building to come into use, which is considered its actual birth to the people who will utilize the space. A heavy importance is placed on this in modern Hindu culture, and therefore there is a large amount of information on this topic from that tradition.

Horoscopic astrology is a form of astrology which uses a horoscope, a visual representation of the heavens, for a specific moment in time in order to interpret the inherent meaning underlying the alignment of the planets at that moment. The idea is that the placement of the planets at any given moment in time reflects the nature of that moment and especially anything which is born then, and this can be analyzed using the chart and a variety of rules for interpreting the 'language' or symbols therein.

One of the defining characteristics of this form of astrology that makes it distinct from other traditions is the computation of the degree of the Eastern horizon rising against the backdrop of the ecliptic at the specific moment under examination, known as the ascendant. As a general rule, any system of astrology that does not utilize the ascendant does not fall under the category of horoscopic astrology, although there are some exceptions.