What is the difference between astronomy and astrology?

Definition of astronomy

word astronomy It comes from the Greek “astron”, which means “star”, and “nomos”, which means “law”. Astronomy is the science of observing stars such as the sun, moon, planets, comets, or stars. It aims to explain their origin, understand their evolution and better understand their various properties, whether physical or chemical. Astronomy also studies their movements in space. This science appeared more than 5,000 years ago, because the first traces of this science date back to pre-antiquity.

Over the centuries there have been many famous astronomers. We take an example Galileo, who was the first to observe the sky with an astronomical telescope, or Copernicus, who discovered that the Earth is not in the center of the universe. It is also one of the only sciences practiced by a large audience of enthusiastic amateurs who observe the stars with glasses or telescopes. Some of them were also able to advance in astronomy thanks to their discoveries, by observing new comets for example.

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What is astrology?

Defines the National Center for Textual and Lexical ResourcesAstrology as “the science of certain stars considered in their relations between them, in their positions in the signs of the zodiac and the art of interpreting these particular configurations on a particular date, and placed in the chart of the sky, with the aim of defining a person’s character and predicting the future. Linguistically, the word astrology means ‘discourse’ on the stars.”

As a general rule, however, astrology is not considered a field of science. It is based on a set of beliefs and practices that currently have no scientific basis, because no study has been able to provide concrete evidence. Astrology appeared several thousand years ago. Graffiti has already been found from the Neolithic period. There are many famous astrologers, from Michel de Nostredame, named Nostradamuswho is said to have predicted great events in history, to Elisabeth Tessier, who has contributed to the increasing popularity of astrology in France in recent years.

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The main differences between astronomy and astrology

To begin with, astronomy is formally a science, while astrology is not a science, which is generally defined as a belief system. Astronomy studies all celestial bodies and the universe by processing physical and scientific data, while astrology relies on the movement of only some stars, and the way these movements affect men. They are also based on a different methodology. Astronomy studies the visible and is based on logic and deduction, while astrology is based in part on intuition. Therefore, astronomy and astrology are two completely different processes, even if they involve the study of stars and their movements, and both have many followers!

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