Introduction

     People always say that astrology and astronomy are the same because they are both about planets and stars, but they really aren’t. You are about to find the TRUE difference between astrology and astronomy. 

What Is Astrology?

    Astrology has been used by humans for hundreds and hundreds of years. It is a pseudoscience, which means false science. Astrology makes predictions based on the planets and stars. Astrology studies the stars based on the positions in the sky. 

     Farmers started to look at the stars and notice they could see certain patterns of stars in different seasons. People started to make connections between the patterns of the stars they were seeing in the sky, as well as the positioning of the sun, moon, and planets, and the events that were happening in their lives. 

      The study of astrology looks at people’s mood and personality changes based on where the planets are. The stars can affect more than just people. They can also influence the environment, such as to predict the weather or important Earth events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, droughts, and plagues.

Astrology and Astronomy in Ancient Times

     Bones and cave walls were carved 25,000 years ago that show astronomers predicting change in the weather based on changes in the stars. 

    In 1400BC, Hindu texts talk about astronomy and astrology. So astrology was practiced in many different places around the world in ancient times. 

    Astrology dates back to at least 4,000 years. Back in 1700BC, Babylonians wrote about astrology. In 1800 BC, Ancient Mesopotamia practiced astrology. This shows that people have used astrology to make predictions for thousands of years.

Birth of Jesus

     Even the birth of Jesus has connections to interpreting the stars. The Three Wise Men, also called the Magi, were astrologists. They used their interpretations of the stars and planets to lead them to the birth of Jesus.

    The bright Star of Bethlehem which directed the Three Wise Men to Jesus was likely a conjunction of the planets Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars in the constellation of Pisces, or else a comet that appeared brightly in the night sky. 

 Horoscopes

     Horoscopes identify birth dates and depending on when a person was born, can give an outlook on their personality and even life advice. You can typically find a horoscope published by a newspaper.

     Many people consider horoscopes to be mainly fiction and "fake science," mostly a form of fun and entertainment. Other people, however, are strong believers in the power of the stars and planets to influence our lives and environment.

What Is Astronomy?

     Astronomy is the study of the universe beyond the Earth, including the stars, planets, galaxies, and comets. Astronomy is based on observation through tools such as telescopes, and the collection of data in order to understand how the universe works, how the universe was formed, and how the universe is changing and evolving.

     Astronomy does not believe the planets and stars have a direct influence on the individual events of people's lives on Earth. 

     But there is scientific proof that the sun and the moon have a physical influence on the planet. For example, the gravity of the moon creates the high tides and low tides of the oceans.

Astronomy In Different Places Around The World

     Astronomy continues to be studied while making new discoveries about the universe.  The European Southern Observatory runs the Paranal Observatory which is located in the Atacama Desert. Astronomers have to fly to Chile to use this equipment. 

     Neutrinos are important in learning more about the universe. Tiny Particles that are called neutrinos move through space and can reveal a lot about the universe. In your body every second about 100 trillion neutrinos are passing through. 

     Planes can view outer space without distortion by flying at altitudes of 48,000 feet or 9 miles above the Earth’s surface. Scientists working on planes fly so high that they have to wear oxygen masks.

Using Telescopes

     Modern telescopes are different because they can find light waves that can’t be seen by the human eye, such as x-rays, ultraviolet light and infrared light. Telescopes are used by astronomers to look at the visible light given off by stars and planets. 

     For hundreds of years only visible light could be seen through telescopes. Radio telescopes are mainly used by astronomers to gather signals from space to learn more about the universe.  

     Some astronomers are lucky enough to observe space above the Earth’s surface while others view the night sky through telescopes on the Earth’s surface.

      IceCube is a telescope that astronomers use at the South Pole to look for neutrinos. Astronomers use the telescope to carry out experiments and investigations.

     The Hubble Space Telescope is an observatory in outer space, 320 miles above the Earth just beyond the Earth's atmosphere. The Hubble Space Telescope is able to send sharp, clear images back to Earth of objects in deep, deep space that can't be seen by any other telescope located on Earth. 

     Images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope have changed and improved astronomers' understanding of the universe.

True Difference Between Astrology and Astronomy

     Astronomy studies the universe and how it works and astrology studies the cycles of the stars and the planets. Astrology and astronomy both study Earth’s atmosphere and the positioning of objects in the sky such as planets, stars, and comets.

     The true difference is that astronomy is a science, based on observations using tools such as telescopes, and the analysis of data and information collected from scientific observation.

     In contrast, astrology is a pseudoscience, meaning it can’t stand up to scientific standards. It uses observations of the stars and planets as a basis for making predictions and interpreting the events of people's everyday lives.

What is your Zodiac Sign?