The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century, 2000-2100 at Midnight [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Rique Pottenger (Author), based on the earlier work of Neil F. Michelsen (Author), Maria Kay Simms (Editor, Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0976242230 | ISBN-13: 978-0976242239 | Publication Date: November 13, 2006

In 1976, Neil F. Michelsen compiled, programmed and published the first edition of the ephemeris series that set new standards of accuracy for contemporary astrology. In 2006, celebrating the 30th anniversary of that first publication, Rique Pottenger continues the work that Michelsen began with this new full 21st century ephemeris, updated with the very latest data. New features include Ceres added to daily longitude listings of Sun through Pluto. Monthly listings for Eris, Pallas, Juno and Vesta, along with Chiron and a new and improved position for the Galactic center. Improvements enable finding double ingresses on a single day, astro data phenomena sorted by time as well as date, and more. "Remembering Neil" text section capsulizes the beginning years of the development of computer technology for astrologers and Neil's contribution. Read excerpts from Neil's own writings and commentary from colleagues. Study Neil's chart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...newly updated and expanded with the latest Jet Propulsion Laboratory data, several other new features, while retaining familiar data and a format relied upon by astrologers worldwide. Updates and additions include the entire 21st Century from 2000-2100; Ceres added to daily longitude listings, a new formula increasing accuracy of monthly position calculations of the Galactic Center; monthly positions for Eris, Chiron, Pallas, Juno and Vesta; Astro Data column phenomena sorted by time as well as by data; and planetary ingress data that includes R if planet is retrograde when it ingresses. Of special note is the Dedication followed by memorial feature "Remembering Neil" which capsulizes the beginning years of the development of computer technology as applied to astrology. The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century is a 624-page treasury of information, example and instruction that is especially recommended to dedicated astrologers and should prove to be a cornerstone of any personal, professional and academic library's Astrological Studies reference collection. --Small Press Bookwatch, Dec. 1, 2006

...a very nice introduction telling you about Neil Michelsen and his place in astrology, as well as a complete explanation of the technical basis of all the information in the ephemeris. It's nice to see this wonderful new edition of a classic. It is as beautiful and as comprehensive as ever, and worth every penny of the very reasonable price. --Kenneth Irving, Horoscope Guide, June 2007

Anyone who wants to study or practice astrology needs to know exactly where the planets are at any particular time. This requires either some good astrology software or an accurate ephemeris...Personally, I need both...and this one is going with me whenever I do astrology readings. The few pages introducting The New American Ephemeris begin with a tribute to Neil Michelsen, who created the first inexpensive, accurate ephemeris. The earlier version from 1976 was a bit like the Guttenburg Bible in that it allowed...quick and easy access to precise planetary positions without having to rely on the high priests of the astronomical community. Based on information from the U.S. Almanac Office and his own incipient knowledge of celestial mechanics, Michelsen developed the software routines that spit out the planet's positions...used a teletype machine connected to an IBM 1130 computer that received commands from keypunch cards....Computers have come a long way since then...Rique Pottenger took over when Michelsen died in 1990...Among the most interesting--and last minute changes...(due to) International Astronomers Union...Pluto still holds its rightful place on the top line with the other planets. Now, Ceres is listed between Mars and Jupiter...Eris (UB313) is listed in a box in the lower right hand corner, along with Chiron and the Galactic center...monthly positions...(with) the three asteroids--Vesta, Pallas and Juno--are also listed...Altogether, The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century must be considered one of the modern astrologer's indispensable tools. --Chris Lorenz, Dell Horoscope, May 2007

About the Author

Rique Pottenger, who has a B.Sc. in Math and Astronomy from University of Arizona, and an M.S. in Computer Science from UCLA, was employed at Astro Computing Services and ACS Publications from 1984-2004. After Michelsen's passing in 1990, Pottenger assumed responsibility for updating the Michelsen references and maintaining and improving ACS' production programs. the task of revising and updating the ACS reference works after Michelsen's passing in 1990. He also programmed The Asteroid Ephemeris 1900-2050 with Chiron and the Black Moon, and the Electronic Astrologer software series. Now semi-retired, he lives in Opelika, Alabama, where he continues to do astrological programming for a small list of clients.

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Starcrafts Publishing, Starcrafts LLC (November 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976242230
• ISBN-13: 978-0976242239
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Astrologer Should Have a Copy!, December 6, 2006

By 

Helen Weaver (Woodstock, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century, 2000-2100 at Midnight (Paperback)

When I began studying astrology with Zoltan Mason in 1969, we calculated birth charts with the
aid of an ancient green book called Dalton's Table of Houses, a German ephemeris published in
1968, and a slide rule. You had to interpolate to find the MidHeaven and Ascendant and once
you had the house cusps, the position of every planet had to be calculated separately. The whole
process took, as I recall, about twenty minutes, and the result was not always accurate, as became
clear after computers entered the picture a couple of decades later.

Nowadays, astrologers enter birth data into their favorite computer program and seconds later,
print out a chart that is accurate within micro-seconds of arc. Many brilliant technical minds have
contributed to the creation of the astrological programs we all take for granted, but of this
peaceful army of geeks and nerds the acknowledged leader and shining star is a man who never
practiced astrology himself, but dedicated his life to serving those who did: the brilliant and
beloved Neil F. Michelsen.

In 1976, Neil Michelsen compiled, programmed, and published the first edition of The American
Ephemeris: 1901 to 1930. The first computer-generated ephemeris in history, this pioneering
work set new standards of accuracy for modern astrology. Now, thirty years later, Rique
Pottenger, Neil Michelsen's successor as head programmer of his brainchild Astro Computing
Services, presents The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century and dedicates it to the man
who almost singlehandedly revolutionized modern astrology, even identifying his book on the
cover as the Michelsen Memorial Edition.

In bringing astrology into the computer age, Neil Michelsen gave astrologers the tools to do
complex operations that were previously too time-consuming and in so doing, he brought
astrological research to a new level. For example, the ground-breaking work of statisticians
Michel and Francoise Gauquelin was based on calculations that took them a year to do by hand.
With the aid of a computer and the programs he created, Michelsen was able to perform all those
calculations in a single night!

When I was hired to translate, revise, and expand a French dictionary that became The Larousse
Encyclopedia of Astrology, there was no question what ephemeris we would use to illustrate the
article on chart calculation. Like The New York Times, Neil Michelsen's American Ephemeris
was the authority of record.

The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century maintains the same tradition of accuracy and
comprehensiveness, while adding a few changes in format. Daily positions for Ceres, the largest
of the asteroids, have been inserted between Mars and Jupiter; a new formula determines the
position of the Galactic Center; and monthly positions of Eris (the body beyond Pluto known to
astronomers as UB313), plus the asteroids Pallas, Juno, and Vesta, as well as that mysterious
body (planet? asteroid? captured comet?) Chiron have been added.

I was particularly pleased to note that Pluto, despite its recent controversial demotion to "dwarf
planet" by the International Astronomers Union, remains in its usual column of daily longitude
positions along with the rest of the planets.


Neil Michelsen brought us out of the dark ages and helped to create a bridge between the ancient
art of astrology and the wonders of modern technology. In revolutionizing the tools for
astrological research he made a significant contribution to the important ongoing task of healing
the centuries-old schism between astrology and science. Neil Michelsen's spirit pervades this
book, both in its Neil-like devotion to-nay, obsession with-the accuracy of its data, and in the
moving tributes of his friends and colleagues. In these chaotic and turbulent times it is important
that we honor and carry on the work of our elders. Rique Pottenger's New American Ephemeris
for the 21st Century is a fitting tribute to the man whose life work inspired it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astrologers rejoice!, May 26, 2007

By 

krebsman (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century, 2000-2100 at Midnight (Paperback)

I did not realize how much I missed having an ephemeris in book form until I got this one. Yes, I have the software and ephemeredes are available online, but it's great to just have the book to quickly thumb through to check the timing of upcoming aspects and transits. THE NEW AMERICAN EPHEMERIS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY is even better than the 20th Century version. The new feature that I like best is that the retrograde periods for all planets are all shaded gray, so you can tell at a glance when the retrogradation begins and ends. The other immediately noticeable difference is that the asteroid Ceres is given its own column between Mars and Jupiter. I've never worked with the asteroids, so I don't know of how much value this is for me personally, but for those who find them useful, this could be a valuable addition.

This ephemeris is the work of Rique Pottenger based on the earlier work of Neil F. Michelson, who died at age 59 on May 15, 1990. At the beginning of the book is a dedication to and biographical reminiscence of Michelson, who was astrological computing's supreme pioneer.

If you've been debating whether to spring for an ephemeris in book form, don't hesitate any longer. It's definitely worth it. I spend so much time at the computer already. It's great to get to do some astrological work away from it. Five stars.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable, December 8, 2006

By 

Dorothy Oja "professional, career astrologer" (Watertown, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century, 2000-2100 at Midnight (Paperback)

We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us!

Kudos to Rique Pottenger for continuing the pioneering work of Neil Michelsen.

Neil was born with Mars in Leo, which I like to call the superman position! This placement along with his Sun in Taurus gave him the tenacity and will to make his dreams come true. And he dreamt BIG! In the early half of my astrological career, I asked Neil for some research help with an article. He was generous enough to get me the information in a timely manner, and refused to accept payment for it. His energy and warm smile was a welcome sight at conferences. Once his Astro-Computing services were up and running, I used his service for well over 10 years before I finally got my own computer and astrology program.

The Michelsen Memorial Edition belongs on the desk of every serious astrologer.Its many new and convenient features, and the first ephemeris I know of to include positions for Eris, makes it indispensable.

This is the ultimate astrologer's bible.

I enjoyed leafing through the century and wondering, as I watched the positions of the outer planets change signs, how the world would respond to these new planetary stimuli and how it would all manifest. And, one could not help but contemplate how far into this century, one would be gifted to live, and that this cosmic clock continues ticking on, with or without us mortal beings. This book reaffirmed for me once again the magic of astrology and this great cosmic language written in the stars.