I think this does approximately what you want:
#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp :results none
(require 'ov)
(defun org-max-heading-depth ()
"Get maximum depth of a heading."
(let ((max-depth 0)
depth)
(org-map-entries (lambda ()
(when (> (setq depth (car (org-heading-components)))
max-depth)
(setq max-depth depth))))
max-depth))
(defun org-right-align-overlay ()
"Put an overlay on headline * to right align to maximum depth.
Should be run while on the headline."
(interactive)
(let* ((diff (- (org-max-heading-depth) (car (org-heading-components))))
ov)
(while (and (setq ov (ov-at (match-beginning 1)))
(overlay-get ov 'right-align))
(delete-overlay ov))
;; (setq ov (make-overlay (line-beginning-position) (+ 1
(line-beginning-position))))
(setq ov (make-overlay (match-beginning 1) (+ 1 (match-beginning 1))))
(overlay-put ov 'before-string (make-string diff ? ))
(overlay-put ov 'right-align t)))
(defun org-right-align-clear ()
(interactive)
(ov-clear 'right-align))
(defun align-matcher (&optional limit)
(while (re-search-forward org-heading-regexp limit t)
(org-right-align-overlay)))
(add-to-list 'org-font-lock-hook 'align-matcher)
#+END_SRC
Its only light tested, and may be slow on a long document because it is
checking the maximum depth each time. You could set this to a constant,
e.g. 8 if it is too slow.
David Cao writes:
> Hello,
>
> I was wondering if there is any way to right-align the header indicators
> while left-aligning the actual content. Unfortunately I haven't been able
> to find any mention of such a feature online.
>
> For example:
>
> * My fancy org file
> ** Header 2
> Some content here
> *** Header 3
>
> Thanks in advance!
> David
--
Professor John Kitchin
Doherty Hall A207F
Department of Chemical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-268-7803
@johnkitchin
http://kitchingroup.cheme.cmu.edu
