HOW ARE THEY ALIKE AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT???
2007-03-05 07:34:12 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
As alchemy is to chemistry, astrology is to astronomy. Both disciplines study the same subject, but for different reasons.
Astrology is the elder study. The procession of constellations through the night sky, along with the less predictable journeys of the planets, led ancient watchers to look for patterns and meanings. Once the patterns were discovered, scholars searched for significance in the otherwise meaningless activity. The annual patterns were easiest. Certain constellations appeared at the beginnings of certain seasons, affecting the weather and food cycles. The planetary meanderings were less obvious. Eventually, they were associated with personal fates (particularly among the ruling class), since they acted as individuals themselves. Random events such as comets or meteors presaged disaster since they violated the orderliness of the cosmos.
Astronomy grew out of astrology as a result of discoveries that indicated the premises of astrology were in error. Scientific inquiry revealed that the stars and planets were not what they appeared to be and did not move in discrete spheres around the Earth. The dislocation of Earth from its assumed position in the center of the universe required a better understanding of the way things actually work, accompanied by a loss of metaphysical significance.
Astrology's purpose was to explain the WHY of things. Because it is based on a false understanding, it is locked into its ancient interpretations, even as the significant constellations precess through new seasons. To "update" it would be to destroy it. Astronomy, unable to derive such a system, focuses entirely on the HOW of things. It therefore changes constantly, modifying its models as new data is uncovered.
2007-03-05 08:10:23 · answer #1 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Astrology is like the study of how the stars affect you and how the relation between them affect what goes on on earth. Astronomy, on the other hand, is the study of the stars and planets and what they are made of. Astronomy is a more exact ( for the most part )science and most people dont believe in astrology. They are similar because they both have to do with something we cant touch.... stars
2007-03-05 09:48:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Astrology is a bunch of crap.
Astronomy is an actual type of science.
2007-03-05 12:02:44 · answer #3 · answered by Stefanie B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Astrology: a bunch of b.s.
Astronomy: a real science
2007-03-05 08:41:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
um, they really dont have much to do with each other...astronomy is the study of the universe, stars, planets, meteors, etc...astrology is the study of horoscopes and zodiac signs and stuff...all of the zodiac signs are constellations and the way they determined which signs for which month is based on when the sun is in direct line with that constellation, i.e. the sun is in the constellation of pisces right now...hope that helps
2007-03-05 07:38:50 · answer #5 · answered by YouKnowImRight 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are alike in the fact that they both deal with stars and the constalellations as well as time in space. They are different in that astronomy deals with science concerning the stars while astology deals with the meaning of the stars. Which is very unscientific.
2007-03-05 07:46:59 · answer #6 · answered by ambr95012 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
astrology is when you look at the future and astronomy is when you learn about the planets and solar system
2007-03-05 09:32:11 · answer #7 · answered by Pistonsfan101 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
here's a good rule of thumb:
astrology: fake science, not testable by any scientific means... a gimmick to make money.
astromony: an actual science, the study of the universe and what's in it, NOT a gimmick to make money.
PLEASE DON'T EVER GET THESE CONFUSED, IN SOME CONTRIES THIS CAN GET YOU KILLED!
=]
2007-03-05 11:05:11 · answer #8 · answered by fixedinseattle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋