Mark Pottenger has been involved in technical astrology and computer programming for many years. He has helped David Cochrane, the main programmer of the Kepler program, several times with technical questions. For example, while developing the AstroMaps feature of Kepler, David used mathematical formula presented in a paper by Mark Pottenger to draw the lines on the maps, and Mark was able to provide David with clarification on these formula.

Mark Pottenger was born on February 9, 1955 at 3:23 AM (birth certificate time) in Tucson, AZ. The precise coordinates from a map are 32 N 15' 09", 110 W 52' 38". He received a B.A. degree in philosophy in 1976. He taught math and astronomy at Intensives in Los Angeles, Helena, and Zaca Lake from 1976 to 1980.

He has been programming since 1977. He is not a practicing astrologer. Mark was research director for ISAR (International Society for Astrological Research) from 1985 to 1995. Over the years Mark has been involved in numerous research projects, software development projects, and publication of technical data, ephemerides, etc.

Mark Pottenger is one of the few people that has both a thorough understanding of astrological theory as well as expertise in celestial mechanics, research, computer programming, and other technical areas. Mark comes from a family of people active in astrology: his mother (Zipporah Dobyns) and sister (Maritha Pottenger) are both astrologers, and his eldest brother (Rique Pottenger) also does astrological programming.