Difference Between Astronomy and Astrology

Main Difference – Astronomy vs Astrology

Astronomy and astrology are two fields that have common roots; they both study the movement of celestial objects. Astronomy is the study of celestial objects, space and the universe as a whole. Astrology is the study of movement and position of celestial objects and their supposed influence on events and the lives of human beings. The main difference between astronomy and astrology is that astronomy is a branch of natural science whereas astrology is considered a pseudo-science.

What is Astronomy

Astronomy is the study of celestial objects and the universe as a whole. It is a branch of the natural science. Astronomy is concerned with all phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of earth. It can involve celestial objects such as stars, planets, galaxies, asteroids and processes such as supernovae explosions, gamma ray bursts, etc..

Astronomy can be considered as one of the oldest sciences in the world. There are many historical records to prove that early civilizations such as Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Maya have methodically observed the night sky. However, it was the invention of the telescope that really developed astronomy as a modern science.

In the 20^th century, astronomy was split into two branches named observational and theoretical. Observational astronomy is involved in observing astronomical objects and acquiring data. Theoretical astronomy is mainly involved in the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena. These two branches complement each other. Astronomy is also divided into various subfields such as solar astronomy, planetary science, stellar astronomy, galactic astronomy, cosmology, etc.

What is Astrology

Astrology is the study of the movements and positions of celestial objects as a way of predicting information about human affairs and global events. Astrology is often associated with zodiac signs and horoscopes that claim to predict a person’s personality and important events in their lives.

Astrology dates back to thousands of years and many ancient civilizations like Chinese, Indians and Maya have developed complex systems for predicting terrestrial events from celestial observations. In the past, astronomy was considered to be a branch of science and was closely associated with disciplines such as astronomy, medicine, and alchemy. However, with the advancement of science, the scientific nature of astronomy began to be questioned; it failed to prove its validity in both theoretical and experimental grounds. Therefore, it is now considered as a pseudoscience. The belief in astrology is also declining gradually.