Nakshatra can refer to both a single star and a group of stars (asterism).
In the Hindu Calendar, a Nakshatra is a segment of the Moon's ecliptic orbit.
The Moon takes about 27 days to complete its orbit, so there are 27 Nakshatras, with the Moon spending roughly one day in each.
Moon: 0°
Ashwini
Naming & Relevance
Each Nakshatra is named after the prominent star that lies within its segment.
A person's birth Nakshatra influences rituals like naming, personality traits, and compatibility with other people.
Nakshatras also serve as a convenient coordinate system to locate the positions of planets in the sky.
The 27 Nakshatras
| 1Ashwini |
| 2Bharani |
| 3Krittika |
| 4Rohini |
| 5Mrigashira |
| 6Ardra |
| 7Punarvasu |
| 8Pushya |
| 9Ashlesha |
| 10Magha |
| 11Purva Phalguni |
| 12Uttara Phalguni |
| 13Hasta |
| 14Chitra |
| 15Swati |
| 16Vishakha |
| 17Anuradha |
| 18Jyeshtha |
| 19Mula |
| 20Purva Ashadha |
| 21Uttara Ashadha |
| 22Shravana |
| 23Dhanishta |
| 24Shatabhisha |
| 25Purva Bhadrapada |
| 26Uttara Bhadrapada |
| 27Revati |