What is the difference between astrology ans astronomy?
By bornraf
@bornraf (228)
United States
5 responses
@mattithyahu (389)
• United States
9 May 07
It isn't about the "amount of data collected." That isn't what makes something science. Science is when you use the scientific method to come up with theories that are predictive and can explain what goes on around us.
Astrology does not use the scientific method, nor is it predictive. Astrology attempts to correlate celestial objects with things that happen on Earth. Aside from gravitational interactions (and EM interactions and a few others), there is no scientific evidence to suggest that celestial objects have any effect on us.
2 people like this
@mattithyahu (389)
• United States
12 May 07
I do dismiss astrology as being any kind of science. I have a heard time calling "social science" sciences at all (but that is another issue), but I don't think any of the social sciences would want to be grouped with astrology either.
I would like to see any sort of research that says the full moon ACTUALLY does anything. I am not talking about perceptions that things happen more, I want to see that things ACTUALLY happen.
@Chiang_Mai_boy (3882)
• Thailand
9 May 07
The short answer is that Astronomy is science. Astrology is pseudoscience.
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
8 May 07
Actually, there are very few things they have in common.
Astrology is a load of unfounded affirmations on the way the planets affect every person's life and actions.
Astronomy, on the other hand, is a legit science based on the laws of physics that calculates the trajectories of the celestial bodies and their many interactions.
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
9 May 07
Max Heindel would turn in his grave hearing this. I'm not sure on your use of the word affirmation - it doesn't fit at all with astrology. But astrology is certainly not unfounded. Please understand that I am not talking about horoscopes, perhaps this is where you get your disgust from, and so form your opinion. I personally don't agree with 'horoscope' type readings, they are totally shallow and unintelligent. But astrology, planetary forces, angles are widely documented.
@ryanphil01 (4182)
• Philippines
8 May 07
based on what i read on http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/
skepticism/blfaq_astro_sci_astronomy.htm
astrology is not a science, it is not based upon collected data and carefully controlled, objective observations. it has not discovered any celestial objects, it is not clear that astrology has discovered or revealed anything at all about our universe.
while astronomy is considered a science, based upon careful observation and hypothesis, designed to help humans learn more about the universe in which we live. through astronomy asteroids, planets, stars, galaxies and more have been discovered.
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
9 May 07
That's a little short sighted. There has been myriads of date collected on astrology. Please don't be fooled by Horoscopes and Astrology, there is a difference. Research Astrology before making these assumptions.
I mean you no disrespect by saying this, but you have to know that astrology has been used and documented much longer than documentation on astronomy persee. In the days of Alexander it is not clear whether the two were separate.
Regardless, there is no argument about the science of astronomy - very physical proof there. There is also no argument about the psychology attached to planetary forces. You just need to understand what you are looking for. And just like science, it is a learned subject.
@a_ce_e (1421)
• Philippines
12 May 07
"Astronomy is simply the observation and measurement of celestial bodies, while astrology is an attempt to find some sort of "meaning" or "influence" in the planetary positions.....
Astronomy is a science that compels us to seek beyond ourselves and our small world, a science of discovery that enriches our lives by exercising our brain and our intellect. It empowers you to think clearly and rationally. It improves and shrpaens critical thinking skills.
Astrology disempoers you. By placing your future in the accidental configuration of planets and stars, you avoid for taking responsibility for your actions, you fail to make decisions based on your own best self interest, and you give up the power to ocntrol your own destiny.
I had got these on this link try to read for the complete article. http://home.fuse.net/astronomy/opinion.html
In my own view astrology is a mother of astronomy, the datas gathered by astrologers had influenced how astronomy has today.
