Asteroids offer another layer of insight in astrology, and a number of them are associated with love and relationships. While there are thousands of asteroids, a small subset is frequently used to examine romantic patterns. Below, we look at seven of these love-related asteroids.
Asteroids can be interpreted much like planets. You can locate them in your birth chart to see how they might influence your life, and you can also track their transits through the zodiac to understand current influences.
Their positions at birth can shape your attitudes toward relationships, love, dating, and commitment, among other things. In transit, they may indicate how you meet someone, when love becomes a stronger focus, and similar matters.
Asteroids are also useful in synastry, where two birth charts are compared to assess compatibility. While planets often receive most of the attention, asteroids can provide additional details about your connection with another person.
We will cover seven asteroids that can affect love and relationships. These are not the only important asteroids in astrology, but they are a good starting point.
Love Asteroids in Astrology
1. Juno: Marriage and Commitment
Asteroid Juno is associated with marriage and commitment.
In mythology, Juno was married to Jupiter and was extremely loyal to him—perhaps too loyal. He was unfaithful repeatedly, yet Juno remained by his side throughout.
Your natal Juno can reflect your own attitudes toward commitment and loyalty. Its house placement may show where this is most evident, and aspects from other natal planets to Juno can influence your capacity for commitment (and your risk of ending up with someone like Jupiter!).
Transit Juno can affect commitment in the present. When transit Juno forms harmonious aspects (sextile and trine), commitment and loyalty may come more easily and be reciprocated. When it forms difficult aspects (square and opposition), these qualities may be harder to achieve.
When transit Juno is conjunct a personal planet (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) or Jupiter, you may feel a stronger need for commitment. When conjunct Saturn, commitment must be approached carefully; otherwise, it may dissolve.
Conjunct Uranus, commitment may take on a completely different meaning, while with Neptune, it may center on a spiritual connection. With Pluto, loyalty can become fierce.
These principles also apply when transiting planets aspect your natal Juno.
In synastry, a Juno connection between two people can make loyalty feel more natural, but you should ensure it does not resemble the Juno–Jupiter dynamic, where one person takes advantage of the other.
When that pitfall is avoided, a Juno connection can indicate a soulmate bond.
2. Eros: Sex
Eros is the asteroid linked to sex. It indicates your sexual preferences, your approach to sexual relationships and sex itself, and how you connect sexually.
This is most clearly seen through the sign and house placement of your natal Eros. Aspects to natal Eros can also influence what turns you on most.
Transit Eros affects sexual desire in the moment. When transit Eros forms harmonious aspects, you may enjoy sexual connections without excess. When it forms difficult aspects, you may experience sexual frustration or difficulty controlling your desires.
When transit Eros is conjunct a personal planet or Jupiter, sexual desire can be much stronger than usual. You may need an outlet for it, or you could feel quite irritable.
Conjunct Saturn, your sex drive may be low; conjunct Uranus, you may be interested in experimenting with something or someone new. Conjunct Neptune, sex may take on a spiritual dimension, while conjunct Pluto, it can be passionate and all-consuming.
This also applies when transiting planets aspect your natal Eros.
In synastry, an Eros connection can create intense sexual attraction—but is there more to it?
Another important point: in synastry, Eros is often considered together with Psyche. In mythology, Eros and Psyche share a great love story, so an Eros–Psyche connection between two people can indicate a profound love that goes beyond sex.
This is most commonly seen when one person’s Eros is conjunct the other’s Psyche, but it can also appear with conjunctions to personal planets or the angles.
3. Cupido: Infatuation
Cupido can be described as the asteroid of crushes. It is associated with the pursuit of romance and the early courtship phase, but other factors are needed to move beyond infatuation.
The sign and house placement of your natal Cupido can show your ability to captivate others and how you behave when you are the one captivated. Aspects add further nuance, though conjunctions to personal planets or the angles can make you someone others fall for constantly or easily (which can become quite annoying!).
Transit Cupido can influence what or who you become infatuated with. When transit Cupido forms harmonious aspects, this may be easier to handle or even use to your advantage. When it forms difficult aspects, infatuation can become obsessive (and more irritating).
When transit Cupido is conjunct a personal planet or Jupiter, it can trigger infatuation in you for someone, or vice versa. When conjunct Saturn, infatuation may be absent.
When conjunct Uranus, infatuation may arise unexpectedly or with someone very different from your usual type; with Pluto, obsession can intensify. With Neptune, it may be purely imaginary.
This also applies when transiting planets aspect your natal Cupido.
In synastry, a Cupido connection can bring a thrilling chase, strong infatuation, and plenty of romance, but at some point, one person must be caught. There may be significant obstacles to overcome to be together, but if you can manage that, it can lead to great love.
4. Amor: True Love
Asteroid Amor is associated with pure love. It reflects our approach to true, unconventional love and our feelings about it, both toward others and toward ourselves.
The sign, house placement, and aspects of your natal Amor can show where and how love is expressed and what we have learned about love from others. It can also reveal blocks that may prevent you from finding real true love.
Transit Amor can affect your ability to love and be in love. When transit Amor forms harmonious aspects, expressing love may be easier; when it forms difficult aspects, this can be harder, and you may hold yourself back.
When transit Amor is conjunct a personal planet or Jupiter, you may feel a strong need to love and bring love into your life. When conjunct Saturn, embracing love may be very challenging, and you may have love-related issues to work through.
When conjunct Uranus, love may take on a different tone, meaning, and mode of expression; with Neptune, love may focus on a spiritual, karmic connection, though it may also be in your head. Conjunct Pluto, love can be more intense and passionate.
All of this also applies when transiting planets aspect your natal Amor.
In synastry, an Amor connection can indicate a very loving relationship and bond. However, if Amor receives hard aspects, this may challenge how love is expressed between you.
5. Aphrodite: Seduction
Asteroid Aphrodite is highly flirtatious and seductive. In mythology, she had many affairs and was not monogamous.
The sign, house placement, and aspects of your natal Aphrodite can show whether you are someone who avoids being tied down and prefers casual relationships. A strong Aphrodite can also make you highly seductive and almost irresistible to others (a true Aphrodite!).
Transit Aphrodite can affect your attitudes and ability to engage in casual entanglements now. When transit Aphrodite forms harmonious aspects, you can be free-spirited without being inconsiderate and coolly seductive. When it forms difficult aspects, you may face consequences.
When transit Aphrodite is conjunct a personal planet or Jupiter, your sex appeal may increase, and you may be interested in anyone and everyone. When conjunct Saturn, you may have little interest at all.
When conjunct Uranus, your tastes may differ from usual, and you may be seen as seductive in unexpected ways. When conjunct Neptune, you can be highly charismatic; when conjunct Pluto, passion can be strong and obsessive but may not last.
This also applies when transiting planets aspect your natal Aphrodite.
In synastry, an Aphrodite connection may indicate an illicit affair or relationship in some way, and it risks being purely sexual and without reason if there are no other connections to ground the energy.
6. Ceres: Familial Love
Ceres is technically a dwarf planet now, but it is still often grouped with asteroids. Ceres is more connected to family love than romantic love, especially the love of a parent for a child.
In mythology, Ceres’s daughter was Persephone, who was taken by Pluto. Ceres was overcome with grief, and it was her duty to ensure the lands were plentiful with food (Ceres rules grains and agriculture). Because she was not doing that, everyone was in danger. A deal was struck, so Persephone spent part of her time with Ceres and part with Pluto.
Ceres represents the dutiful mother—caring, nurturing, supportive, and grounding. Some argue it should rule Taurus instead of Venus (which makes some sense given how much Taurus loves food! Ha, sorry, Taurus).
The sign and house placements and aspects of your natal Ceres can show your connection with your parents (especially your mother), with those who supported and raised you (like a parent), and with your own parental abilities. A strong natal Ceres can make you someone others look to as a parent.
Transit Ceres can affect your ability to nurture and be nurtured. When transit Ceres forms harmonious aspects, this may be easier; when it forms difficult aspects, this can be harder, and the effects can be far-reaching.
When transit Ceres is conjunct a personal planet or Jupiter, you may be more caring and supportive or may seek that from someone else. When conjunct Saturn, support may be limited, and you may struggle with nurturing or put conditions on it.
When conjunct Uranus, nurturing may be expressed unconventionally; with Neptune, it may be expressed through spiritual nurturing. When conjunct Pluto, there may be an intense need to nurture and support, and you may need to transform how you give and receive nurturing.
This also applies when transiting planets aspect your natal Ceres.
In synastry, a Ceres connection can indicate a very nurturing relationship. However, one person may “mother” the other, creating a parent-child dynamic. This is beneficial in an actual parent-child relationship but presents major challenges in a romantic one.
7. Sappho: Sexuality and Friendship
Our final asteroid is Sappho, which is not named after a mythological figure but an actual person. Sappho was a poet, intelligent and attractive; unfortunately, much of her work was burned (zealots have never favored smart, outspoken women!).
Sappho was passionate and a poet of love. While some link her to homosexuality, the association is more about being true to yourself sexually, whatever that may be. Asteroid Sappho can also be strong in friendships.
The sign and house placements and aspects to your natal Sappho can show how you express your true sexual self, as well as how devoted you may be to your friends. A strong natal Sappho can mean you attract many people and are fairly comfortable in your own skin.
Transit Sappho can affect your ability to express your sexuality and your dealings with friends. When transit Sappho forms harmonious aspects, this may be easier, and you can express yourself quite fully. When it forms difficult aspects, this can present issues.
When transit Sappho is conjunct a personal planet or Jupiter, you may feel it is important to be free in your sexual expression and may give more attention to friendships. Conjunct Saturn, you may be quieter and more solitary.
When conjunct Uranus, you can be much more open and engaged with friends; with Neptune, you may be more evasive. When conjunct Pluto, your expression may be more intense.
This also applies when transiting planets aspect your natal Sappho.
In synastry, a Sappho connection can inspire mutual feelings, especially artistically. You can share a strong bond of respect and friendship.
Where Are Love Asteroids in Your Birth Chart?
These seven love asteroids are a good starting point.
To find them in your birth chart, one option is to use an online astrology service that allows additional objects. Enter your birth information, then look for the extended chart selection or additional objects section. In the manual entry box, type these numbers:
3 (Juno), 433 (Eros), 16 (Psyche), 763 (Cupido), 1221 (Amor), 1388 (Aphrodite), 1 (Ceres), 80 (Sappho)
Enjoy exploring!
