Sidereal Astrology (True Sky Astrology) uses the astronomical placements of the planets in the constellations. Sumerian Astrology uses the the original meanings of the planets and constellations as they were in Sumer, as well as some elements of Babylonian Astrology. Sumerian astrology dates back to at least 3100 BCE. It was adopted by the Babylonians who reduced the sidereal zodiac to the 12 signs still used in tropical astrology and Jyotisha (Vedic astrology).

Sidereal astrology uses the literal placement of the planets in the constellations. Tropical astrology recons the vernal point (spring equinox) as 0 degrees of Aries, despite it not being 0 degrees of Aries for over 2,000 years.

Babylonian astrology was adopted by the Greeks, who created and applied both the element-modality system and erroneous planetary-rulership system to ancient astrology, resulting in inaccurate associations, which remain in use in modern astrology, and influenced Jyotish (Vedic astrology) heavily.