Ascendant
The Ascendant, or rising sign, is the zodiac degree climbing over the eastern horizon at the moment of birth, and it begins the first house.
It moves about a degree every four minutes, which is why a birth time matters: an hour of error can move the whole house structure by a sign. It is the third member of the Big Three with the Sun and the Moon.
Traditionally it stands for the body and the way a life presents itself, and its ruler is one of the most consulted points in the chart.
Frequently asked
What if I do not know my birth time?
The Sun and most planets stay reliable, but the Ascendant and the houses cannot be trusted without it.
Is the Ascendant the same as the first house cusp?
In most house systems yes; in whole sign houses the first house begins at 0 degrees of the Ascendant's sign.