Astrology Vs. Astronomy

Astrology and astronomy are often confused. In fact, astrology gave birth to astronomy. People, desperate for more astrological information, funded efforts in astronomy because they believed their findings would create more accurate predictions.

This reasoning allowed the two subjects to be interlaced for centuries, until Sir Isaac Newton worked on his scientific theories, which included developing mathematical equations capable of accurately predicting the movement of planets and other celestial bodes. Prominence was immediately given to the field of astronomy and the two subjects began parting ways.

Astrology

Astrology is the study of events in the sky and how they affect events on Earth. Countless studies have failed to push astrology toward scientific classification and, when studies are repeated, the results are usually not the same as before. When results do repeat, however, it generally is dismissed as coincidence by science-minded individuals. Regardless, astrology has ascertained a large contemporary following.

Unlike astronomy, astrology claims to predict events based on the location of stars and planets. Even though there is no scientifically-founded validity for this field, people spend millions of dollars on books and horoscopes every year. The money spent is for personal fulfillment and does not go back into discovering new insight in astrology.

Astronomy

Astronomy is the study of the movement and makeup of extraterrestrial bodies and how they interact with each other. Studies have proven mathematical equations can predict exact locations of planets and new information is calculated and discovered each day.

Astronomy does not attempt to predict the future like astrology, instead, the professionals in the field desire to know more about the world and the vast universe around them. Like astrology, people spend millions of dollars each year for the sake of astronomy, but unlike astrology, the money goes into furthering the field to continue the search for universal knowledge.

Astrology vs. Astronomy

Both fields study the movement of stars and planets, and sell millions of dollars of educational equipment to their separate legions of followers. The desired result, however, is quite different for each field, as is the initial motivation for research.

Most astronomers laugh off astrology, calling it a pseudoscience, but they should not forget that – without the great appeal astrology has on society – astronomy would likely not have had origin or the funding to maintain its important scientific stance.


Sources:
About. 2006. 14 September 2006. .
Fuse. 2006. 14 September 2006. .