What is the difference between astronomy and astrology?

Question

I want this question answered to help with a class assignment

Answer 1

Astronomy is based on the laws of physics (and therefore mathematics)
and aims at describing what is happening to the universe based on what
we observe today. Because the laws of physics are constant (as far as
we can tell), astronomy can also explain how the universe behaved in
the past and can propose a limited number of possible scenarios for
its future (see FAQ entry about Big Bang). Everyday life applications
of astronomy include calculations/predictions of sunrise/sunset times,
moon phases, tides, eclipse locations, comet visibility, encounters
between various celestial bodies (e.g., SL9 comet crash onto Jupiter
in 1994), spacecraft trajectories, etc.

Astrology on the other hand claims it can predict what will happen to
individuals (or guess what is happening to them), or to mankind, based
on such things as solar system configurations and birth dates. Common
applications include horoscopes and such. Regardless of whether there
is scientific support for astrology, its goal and methods are clearly
distinct from those of astronomy.

Answer 2

Yeah, it's pretty depressing. I've stopped telling people I'm an astronomer because half the time I get 'tell me my fortune'. Astrophysicist shuts them up (physicist gets them confused with physician when you say it and psychic when you spell it). I put 'what is the difference between astronomy and astrology' on one of my intro astronomy lab quizzes and maybe two people out of twenty knew that astrology was superstition. I guess the problem is their science education at the secondary level - they're just supposed to memorize facts; they don't actually know how science works or how to do science. Which is why I run planetarium shows for k-12 students and always talk about the zodiac. The real one.

Answer 3

I wrote a short article a little while ago, titled "Astronomy And Astrology - What Is The Difference?.

Perhaps it will help with your assignment. Here's the link:
http://www.iya2009.com/2007/06/20/astronomy-and-astrology-what-is-the-difference/

Answer 4

Astronomy is a scientific study of the stars, planets, and other non-Earth objects.
Being a science, astronomers use the scientific method of theory, experimentation, observation, validation, and independant duplication to verify facts and data.
Astronomy is strongly rooted in mathematics and physics (and as such is hard for average people to understand or relate to).

Astrology is completely non-scientific, dealing with the myth that astronomical objects can influence the daily lives and events of people on Earth.
It has no scientific basis, no validation that any of the predictions or rules or techniques are objectively correct.
Because it has an aura of credibility (everyone has read a horoscope at sometime that seemed to come true), average people are willing to believe in its predictions.

Astronomy is cold, objective, and logical.
Astrology is personal, subjective, and appeals to the emotions.

Answer 5

Both have to do with stars, or "astro". There the simliarity ends. Astronomy is a science with a methodology for determining the facts, such as physical composition of stars, distances, histories, etc. Astrology starts off with the unproven assumption that the position of the stars have an influence on a person's life, and then goes on to promulgate even more unproven claims about what the stars foretell for that person. In short words, one is science, the other fantasy.

Answer 6

Astronomy is the study of things in the universe, how they move because of gravity, and what makes them up. Its information is derived from empirical evidence.
Astrology is purely speculation and guess work. Its ideas are not based upon anything verifiable or quantifiable.
The doctor in the delivery room was exerting more gravity on you at your birth than any planet was.

Answer 7

LOL. Astronomy lets me calculate how planets and the moon moves. Astrology lets me calculate the winning number of next month's lottery.

Answer 8

I think astronomy is the SCIENCE of the stars, galaxies, etc. Astrology is a theory or hobby that has to do with alignment of stars, moons, etc. It is not scientific unlike astronomy. Hope this helps.

Answer 9

Astronomy is the science of studying the properties (position/makeup/origin/evolution) of things in space such as planets, stars, galaxies,rocks, gas clouds, and other things.

astrology is the belief that the motions and relative locations of such objects has a direct effect on human lives and personalities, and the prediction of such things using tables and meditation

Answer 10

Astronomy is based on facts and possibilities whereas astrology is based on beliefs and imaginations.