Frequently asked questions


The app

What is Co–Star?

Co–Star Astrology is the hyper-personalized, social astrology experience.

How do I use the Co–Star app?

  • Download Co–Star for free in the iTunes or Google Play stores.
  • Enter your birth time, date, and location
  • Link your phone number or Apple account.
  • Enter the six-digit SMS code to verify your account — email us if you’re having trouble receiving the code.
  • Add friends to see your compatibility and read their daily updates. To un-add someone, swipe left on their name and tap the red “remove” button that appears.
  • Use the Settings tab to update your username, birth date, time, and place. Just tap whichever detail you want to change, and it will become editable.

How does it work?

Co–Star’s proprietary technology couples insightful humans with data from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and cutting-edge natural language-AI to give people personalized context for their lives.

How does Co–Star utilize user data?

We use your date, time, and place of birth to use astrology to generate the content that powers your astrology experience.

We choose which transits to surface on your home screen based on your past behavior within the app. For example, if you always look at your 6th/10th house or Saturn transits, we assume that’s because you’re a workaholic and show you more of those transits – and sometimes show you less because you should go outside more. ;)

We do not use or have access to any third party data, including but not limited to your texts, your mic, or other trackers. We don't track your activity or usage on any other app or any other website.

We do use Google Analytics (same as 89% of other top websites) to see how people interact with the app, such as what they click on and how many screens or pages they visit and if the app crashes, so we can fix bugs and make the app better.

Does Co–Star sell user data?

Co–Star does not sell people’s data and will not sell anyone's data in the future.

How does Co–Star make money?

Co–Star runs on a freemium model. 100% of our revenue comes from people paying for a la carte in-app purchases like manually adding friends and advanced chart readings.

Where do I find the reading I paid for?

All premium readings are accessible at any time from your Settings tab. You can also find your own readings—or the readings of your friend—via links from both the Mars and Venus cards in your chart or in theirs.

How do I delete my account?

Go to your profile by tapping YOUR CHART or ALL UPDATES on the home screen. Then go to Settings in the top right. Scroll to the bottom and tap "delete account."

Can I suggest features?

Please send us any suggestions or comments you have.

How can I contact you?

Email us at horoscopes@costarastrology.com for help verifying your account, changing your phone number, or any other app-related questions.


Ask the stars & get answers to your deepest, darkest questions

What is this?

Astrology is an incredible tool to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. We built this feature to make it easier and more accessible to use astrology to understand the patterns of your life, get insight into why you’re feeling the way you are, and find ways to reflect and connect more deeply. This feature answers your questions directly based on your specific chart and the position of the stars today. It’s a simple way to use astrology in your daily life, without needing to know how to read charts or transits. 

Why did Co–Star build this now?

When we first created Co–Star 5 years ago, we focused on providing users the personalized insights we think they need to hear based on their astrology. The demand for our content quickly outgrew the features we’d built. More than anything, we noticed that you, our users, wanted to be able to directly ask Co–Star for further guidance about specific situations in your lives. You found creative ways to spill your souls into the void, confessing your most vulnerable secrets and fears via emails to us, social media DMs, and anonymous feedback forms. Our small team and nascent AI didn’t have the capacity to thoughtfully answer so many personal questions back then, but as more and more poured in, we knew it was important to get there. 

Now, we’re excited to be able to provide a way for you to ask Co–Star all of your questions—from the niche and mundane to the profound and existential—and get insightful, personalized answers exactly when you need them.

How do I ask a question?

To enter the void, open your Co–Star app and tap the portal in the center of the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen.  During their first visit, you can interact with the feature for free. To ask additional questions, you purchase credits. The number of credits available will be clearly displayed in the app. If you run out of credits, you can type a question, but you won’t be able to submit it without buying credits. You can purchase multiple credits at once.

What can I ask?

We can currently answer questions like:

  • Will I ever fall in love?
  • Why am I self-sabotaging?
  • Should I quit my job and move to a different country?
  • How can I meet new people?
  • What should I do if I don’t love my partner anymore?

Soon, we will also be able to answer questions like: 

  • When should I go on vacation?
  • Where should I move after college?
  • Which astrological house is Mercury transiting now?

There are some questions we don’t answer in an effort to keep our community safe. Co–Star is committed to providing a safe experience for its users. We do not answer questions we deem unsafe, toxic, harmful, or hurtful. 

You will never lose your question credits if you ask a question we are unable to answer. Instead, you’ll be prompted to ask again.

What does my answer mean? Where do the answers come from?

When you enter the void and ask the stars, you get in-depth insights and advice based on your natal chart, the real-time movements of the planets in the sky, and the 4,000-year-old system of astrology.

More specifically, every answer is based on Co–Star’s proprietary database of astrological interpretations, custom built over five years by poets, astrologers, and technologists. Questions are parsed to determine your most relevant natal placements and transits using precise NASA data and the corresponding astrology. We then deliver an answer with the intention of helping you cultivate a deeper understanding of self and the world around you. 

While our answers are astrologically accurate, do not follow the stars blindly. Astrology describes the conditions. No star can compromise the human faculty of will.

My question did not produce an answer, what does that mean?

If you are in crisis, please visit this page for mental health and other resources that we recommend. To prioritize your safety, this product will not answer questions that appear to pose a risk to you or others.

There are a few other reasons we may be unable to return an answer. Sometimes, the service is down or we are unable to parse your question. Also, for now, we only accept questions written in English. In these cases, please rephrase your question and try again.

How do I get a refund for an in-app purchase?

For all readings, custom charts and answers purchased in the Co–Star app, users need to reach out directly to the App Store where they made their initial purchase. For all readings purchased here on the Co–Star website, please message us directly.

  • App Store/iOS: Please contact Apple Support to process the refund for you (App Store refund info here). Apple tends to issue the refunds immediately.
  • Play Store/Android: Please contact Google Play Help with your order number, which you can find in your emailed receipt or Google Play order history (info here). It looks like this: GPA.0000-0000-0000-00000.

While we are not authorized to request a refund from the App Stores on your behalf, please reach out to us at horoscopes@costarastrology.com if you have any questions.


The company

Who is the Co–Star CEO?

Banu Guler is the founder and CEO of Co–Star.

A child of Pakistani and Turkish immigrants, Banu forged her identity walking a tightrope between analytic pragmatism and old traditions of coffee ground readings, palmistry, and astrology.

A veteran of the fashion industry, Banu created immersive, tech experiences for brands such as Diane von Furstenberg, Alex & Ani, Ann Taylor, and Michael Kors, before serving as Director of Product + Design at VFILES.

Banu studied psychology at NYU. She is a Scorpio.

Do astrologers work at Co–Star?

Co–Star has full-time staff astrology experts and works with consulting astrologers Lor O'Connor, Dr. Jennifer Freed, and Alice Sparkly Kat.

How do I apply for a job at Co–Star?

If you’re interested in applying for a job at Co–Star, visit our jobs page.

Is Co–Star Astrology Society affiliated with CoStar Commercial Real Estate?

No.

How do I submit a media inquiry?

Email us at press@costarastrology.com and check our press kit here.


Astrology

What is astrology?

Astrology is a language based on the exact positions of the stars and planets in our sky, providing humans with tools for reflection, connection, and community for 4,000 years.

What's a natal chart?

A natal chart is a map of the sky from when and where you were born that shows which constellation (sign) a planet was in front of when you were born. This is the first known celestial coordinate system. It’s been a way of telling time for four thousand years.

In astrology, a natal chart indicates your character traits, behavioral tendencies, hidden desires, and the directions your life might take. It shows the location of each planet, along with the sign and house it appeared in at that moment.

On the app, we have a simplified version of your chart. View the traditional wheel on our website by casting your chart below, or (iOS only) navigate to Settings, turn Public Profile on, and then tap the link.

Cast your chart →

What are aspects?

At the moment you were born, all the stars were in particular places in the sky. Since then, everything’s moved. In astrology, specific angles (or “aspects”) between where the stars were when you were born and where they are now indicate specific kinds of energy. For instance, a conjunction happens when a planet is in the exact same place another (or the same) planet was when you were born – the angle is 0°. Each of the aspects has a kind of energy associated with it:

  • Conjunction (0°): transformation
  • Opposition (180°): conflict and challenges
  • Square (90°): unlucky accidents
  • Semi-Square (45°): irritation and obstacles
  • Sesqui-Quadrate (135°): frustrations and delays
  • Trine (120°): acceleration
  • Sextile (60°): opportunity
  • Semi-Sextile (30°): luck
  • Quincunx (a.k.a. inconjunct)(150°): change and separation

What do the planets stand for in astrology?

Typical horoscopes are written only to a person’s sun sign. But that’s only one part of your astrological chart. It doesn’t take into account the moon and the other planets in the solar system, each of which represents a different kind of energy:

  • ☉  Sun: ego, identity, and role in life
  • ☽  Moon: emotions, moods, and feelings
  • ☿  Mercury: how you communicate, talk, think, and process information
  • ♀  Venus: how and what you love
  • ♂  Mars: sex and aggression
  • ♃  Jupiter: growth, expansion, progress, and philosophy
  • ♄  Saturn: responsibility, restrictions, limits, boundaries, fears, and self-discipline
  • ♅  Uranus: innovation, progression, rebellion, and change
  • ♆  Neptune: dreams, imagination, and the unconscious
  • ♇  Pluto: power, intensity, obsession, control, and transformation

What do all the houses stand for in astrology?

Beginning from the sign that was rising from the east when and where you were born, the sky is divided into 12 sections, which symbolize areas of your life. These also map to the signs.

  • 1st house: Self-image
  • 2nd house: Your personal resources
  • 3rd house: What you know
  • 4th house: Home life
  • 5th house: Pleasure & creativity
  • 6th house: Productivity
  • 7th house: Significant relationships
  • 8th house: Beginnings and endings
  • 9th house: Open-mindedness
  • 10th house: How people see you
  • 11th house: Friends & acquaintances
  • 12th house: Unconscious

What's the relationship between houses, planets, and signs?

It can be helpful to think of the relationship between houses, planets, and signs as questions of “where,” “what,” and “how,” respectively. The houses represent specific areas in which situations might arise. The planets represent the kinds of energy that you could bring to those situations. The signs, finally, represent how that energy is expressed.


It’s possible to analyze the meaning of a house from the perspective of the planets that occupy it, or the sign(s) it intersects. You can also understand a planet through the sign and house it’s in, or the sign through the planets and houses. For example, if you want to understand how you relate to your personal resources, you can look at what planets show up in your 2nd house, or what sign that house is in. If you want to understand your emotional self, you can look at what house and sign your Moon is in.

Are all the houses equally important?

No single house is more important than the others by default. However, if you have more than one planet in a particular house in your natal chart, that house might take on extra significance for you personally.

Are some houses better than others?

No house is inherently bad. Some houses, however, symbolize more challenging areas of life. For instance, the 8th house — the house of birth, death, transformation and crisis — and the 12th house — the house of the unconscious, solitary pursuits, and fantasy — are often perceived as designating negative experiences. This is not necessarily the case. Both the 8th and the 12th house offer the opportunity for significant personal growth and development. They represent powerful energies that can be incredibly rewarding if properly handled and integrated. It’s all a matter of attitude.

What method does Co–Star use to determine birth chart placements?

We use Porphyry, the oldest system of quadrant style house division (far older than Placidus, but slightly newer than Whole Sign), which uses the ascendant as the 1st house cusp and midheaven as the 10th house cusp.

What is a cusp?

The cusp is the beginning of a house. On your circular natal chart, they are represented as spokes on the wheel. Look at the line running horizontally across your chart. The left-hand side of that line marks the beginning, or cusp, of your 1st house. Follow the chart around counterclockwise, and each subsequent spoke marks the cusp of the next house.

What is a house ruler?

The sign that lies on the cusp of each house is the ruling sign of that house. Each sign is associated with a planet as follows:

  • Aries – Mars
  • Taurus and Libra – Venus
  • Gemini and Virgo – Mercury
  • Cancer – the Moon
  • Leo – the Sun
  • Scorpio – Pluto (traditionally Mars)
  • Sagittarius – Jupiter
  • Capricorn – Saturn
  • Aquarius – Uranus (traditionally Saturn)
  • Pisces – Neptune (traditionally Jupiter)

Whatever planet is associated with the sign on the cusp of a house, we say that planet is the house ruler. If, for example, Virgo is the sign on the cusp of your 1st house (i.e., your rising sign or Ascendant), your 1st house is ruled by the planet Mercury. This means that the way you present to people when you first meet them is probably as a deft, quick-witted communicator.


You can add to the picture by then locating the position of the house’s ruling planet in your natal chart. Imagine that in addition to your ascendant being in Virgo, your Mercury is located in the sign of Cancer. That means that you appear to others as someone who speaks in an emotionally sensitive and perceptive way, because Cancer, in turn, is ruled by the Moon, the planet that symbolizes your emotional core.

What does it mean that a sign is intercepted by a house?

We say that a sign is intercepted by a house if it does not touch the cusp of the house in which it begins, or the cusp of the house that follows.


Because of the horizontal symmetry of natal charts, if you have one intercepted sign, the opposite sign will also be intercepted. For instance, if your Cancer is intercepted by the 4th house, your Capricorn will also be intercepted by the 10th house. This is a phenomenon that only occurs in house systems where the angles of the houses are not always equal, and is more common if you were born somewhere particularly far north or south. If you calculate your natal chart using the Whole Sign house system, which divides each house into 30° slices, none of your signs will be intercepted.


If a sign is intercepted by a house, it might mean that you have a difficult time accessing or expressing the energy of that sign in your life in a positive way. For example, if Cancer is intercepted by the fourth house and Capricorn by the 10th house, you may find that it’s hard for you to process emotions and let go of the past, and that you sometimes lack or misdirect the drive to achieve your goals.

Does Co–Star use the tropical or the sidereal zodiac?

Like most western astrology systems, our app exclusively uses the tropical zodiac (as opposed to the Hindu system of astrology Jyotisha, or Vedic astrology, which use the sidereal zodiac). We implicitly reference the sidereal system in some of the images on our How does astrology work? pages, because it makes the physical connection between planets and stars more obvious than talking about solstices and equinoxes. But all of the personalized content in our app is based on the tropical zodiac.

How popular is astrology?

Astrology has been used by humans for four thousand years. According to the National Science Foundation, belief in astrology has been consistent for the past 50 years—1 in 2 young people and 40% of adults.


Shop

No returns

We don’t accept returns, except in the case of damages or defective items.

Please check the size measurements listed before ordering and pick your best size. If you’re unsure, pick a shirt you own and like the fit of and measure it.

We pack all orders by hand and do our best to inspect for damaged items. If you still received damaged merchandise, please contact us via shop@costarastrology.com and we will work out a replacement or refund ASAP.

Free Shipping within the US

Free USPS shipping on all orders within the United States.

Priority UPS shipping is available at additional cost. 

Please double check your address. If the postal service cannot deliver your package and has to send it back to us, we will automatically refund your purchase, subtracting any shipping costs we have incurred.

International Shipping

We ship internationally with USPS First Class International. Tracking is available in certain countries. If your country is not listed, it will not be trackable once it leaves the US. Ordering to non-supported countries is at your own risk and we cannot issue refunds in the event of a non-deliverable package. For supported countries, we will automatically refund your purchase, subtracting any shipping costs we have incurred.

Some countries are subject to import duties and / or fees — please know your own country's requirements before ordering. Packages returned due to duties not paid will be automatically refunded less shipping charges and your merchandise will be returned to stock. All packages are marked as merchandise and for the full retail price, we cannot mark orders as gifts or devalue them.

Anything else?

Contact us.

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