What it means
When a planet comes within a certain distance of the Sun it is lost in the glare and cannot be observed. That distance differs by planet - roughly 12 degrees for most, less for Mercury and Venus when retrograde - and a planet inside it is called Asta, or combust.
How it is read
The classical reading follows the observation: a planet that cannot be seen cannot fully deliver its significations. A combust Venus is read as pressure on partnership and comfort, a combust Mercury as strain on communication. The Sun's own significations are not diminished by it.
What to watch for
Because combustion depends on exact degrees rather than on signs, it is one of the places where a precise chart matters. It is also frequently overstated: combustion is a common condition, especially for Mercury, which never travels far from the Sun.
Astroniq AI astrologer
Ask about your own chart, in plain words
Pages like this one explain the general rules. Your chart is specific. Astroniq computes your real Vedic birth chart - planetary positions, dashas, yogas - and its AI astrologer answers your questions about it in chat, like a consultation. First reading free, no signup.
Try asking: