Astrology

Astrology is a group of beliefs and schools of thought that posits that the relative positions of the sun, moon, stars and other celestial bodies can provide information about an individual’s personality or even fate. It deals with zodiac signs, what stars you were born under, how the planets were aligned when you were born, etc. You know, capricorn, virgo, leo, etc.

In contrast to astronomy, there is little to no scientific basis in astrology; in fact, most real scientists consider astrology a pseudoscience or superstition. However, just because a field of study cannot be proven with empirical data does not mean it does not mean it is wrong, or that it does not have supporters. In India, for example, belief in astrology is widely practiced, and even in developed and Westernized countries like Singapore, some traditionalists still believe in comparing the "sheng cheng ba zi," or the "eight astrological signs of birth" between potential mates to ensure their compatibility. You might perhaps know your own star sign – that is in itself a form of astrology. While information derived from astrology not perfectly accurate, some might still find that it is accurate enough, and live with peace of mind by knowing.

Astrology claims that 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.

Astronomy

Astronomy is simply the observation and measurement of celestial bodies. It 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.

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.

It is the scientific study of celestial bodies, and is often closely related to astrophysics. In short, astronomy is the study of the heavens, while astrology is the study of their effects on human beings.

Astronomy is a science that compels me to seek beyond myself and our small world, a science of discovery that enriches my life by exercising my brain and my intellect. It empowers me to think clearly and rationally. It improves and sharpens critical thinking skills.

It's the sheer fascination for space and the possibilities of worlds beyond our own and a science beyond our current understanding that encourages astronomesr to think outside the box and develop his or her intellect to the fullest. From the time of Galileo, our lives have been enriched beyond measure by scientific discovery.

Astronomy, as befits a professional discipline of scientific study, is well accepted throughout the world as a hard science, particularly since it is closely linked with astrophysics. Astronomers obtain findings, which are analyzed with astrophysics, and theorized phenomena in astrophysics are confirmed by observations made by astronomers. The entire process is well documented, backed up by hard evidence and proven theories, and stands up to rigorous peer scrutiny. As a result, astronomers can command respect as those who unlock the mysteries veiled by the shroud of the night sky.