Guide
Finding your time of birth
Your ascendant depends on the exact time you were born. Here is where to find it, usually for free and within a few days.
Why the time matters
The ascendant changes sign about every two hours, sometimes in less than one: near a boundary, a few minutes are enough to tip it over. Your Sun sign, on the other hand, hardly ever depends on the time. The ascendant explained step by step.
Born in France
The time is on your birth record: the French Civil Code (article 57) requires the day, time and place of birth to be entered. Ask the town hall of your birthplace for a full copy (copie intégrale): it reproduces the whole record, time included, whereas the short extract only keeps the date and place.
The request is free and can be made online at service-public.gouv.fr, or at the town hall. Beware of websites that charge for it.
French citizen born abroad
Your record is kept by the Central Civil Registry Service in Nantes. The full copy can also be requested online for free: birth certificate request (birth abroad).
Elsewhere
Depending on the country, the time may or may not appear on the certificate. In Scotland it is recorded on every birth entry; in England and Wales, only for multiple births. In the United States, the long-form certificate issued by the state's vital records office often shows it. If in doubt, ask the registry office of your place of birth.
Other leads
A baby book, your parents' or relatives' memories, a birth announcement or a hospital bracelet kept as a souvenir often give the time. The maternity ward may also still hold your birth file: you can ask for a copy.
Only an approximate time?
Enter the most likely time: away from a change of sign, the ascendant stays right. The ascendant dial shows, for a given date and city, at what time it changes sign. With no time at all, AstroGramme leaves the ascendant aside rather than guessing one.