I have decided that I will give three months to this project (January to March 2008).  The following is the Project Plan (as of now) :

1.  Correlation and Reconciliation of the charts (showing planetary positions) issued by India Meteorological Department, US Astronomical Survey etc with those used by the Pandits/Jyotishis (ephemeris, Jantris, Panchaang).  If these turn out to be incorrect, then bye bye astrology at this stage itself.

2. Learning how to cast an individual horoscope.  By using the date, time and place of birth of the “native”, one can figure out the planetary positions at the time of birth. These can then be depicted in a chart known as the Janam Kundali.

3. Learning specific rules of  interpretation. Testing them out. Trying to determine their accuracy.

At the end of  three months, i.e. early April 2008, I intend to take proper stock of the situation as on date.  Any decision to wash my hands off the whole astrology business  or continue the experimentation with it for a further six months would be taken at that time.  So, as of now, I am busy comparing tables and charts. I have written software to compare tabular data. I have picked up the Hindi Jantris and am manually comparing the Lagna Saranis and Grah Nirayanas with the data from India Meteorological Department. Shall do the same with the ephemeris. Surprisingly, I have not found any mismatch till now.Shall continue later..