Astronomy vs Astrology

Astronomy vs Astrology: What’s the Difference?

General

When it comes to astronomy vs astrology, this is really a question that has been asked throughout history. It’s a question of science, but also a question involving the forces around us on a spiritual level.

Plus, when you really think about it, it’s a clash between science and the unknown. So today, for you, we’ll be breaking this question down.

We’ll be going into the juicy details from both sides in the clash between astronomy vs astrology, and we’ll even have some interesting information about the signs of the zodiac for you.

So while it may seem a bit “science” in the astronomy sections, in astrology, you’ll be welcomed into a world of wonder with the signs of the zodiac.

As usual, we’ll be breaking everything down into some nice and easy to read sections. This way, if you’re more into one subject over the other, you can have the freedom to navigate as you please. So, with that being said, the sections we have for you today are:

  • Astronomy? What is it?
  • Astrology? What is it?
  • Tools to help you learn more
  • A brief recap

Now that you know what you’ll be looking at, let’s not waste any time, and dive right into the astronomy vs astrology debate.

Astronomy? What is it?

Astronomy is more of the scientific approach to gazing up at the stars. This is due to the fact that researchers use the scientific method to predict, determine, and understand events within our universe.

Therefore, when you consider astronomy, think about a scientist in an observatory.

Finally, astronomy is generally backed up by the laws of physics that define the universe itself. Therefore, for the astronomy portion of the astronomy vs astrology debate, we’ll be looking at the more scientific methods of exploring the universe.

Origins

Astronomy was actually highly disputed when it first originated. This is due to the fact that astrology was actually more widely accepted prior to the 17th century.

Now, while we could give you an entire history lesson, we want you to stay with us, so won’t bore you with all the details.

All you really need to know about the origins of astronomy is the fact that the Western world began to establish it as a valid field of study during the 1600’s. This transition began when philosophers – like Ptolemy – began to look more into the rules of space.

From there, the field of astronomy actually worked alongside astrology, but eventually there was a split in the science behind it. This is where the astronomy vs astrology debate began, but even today it’s still far from over.

This is how we reached the point of defining astrology as a pseudoscience, and defining astronomy as a legitimate field of science that seeks to understand the physical laws of the universe.

Relevance

In the modern world astronomers have a lot of different responsibilities. Aside from locating stars, and equating the distance between said stars, astronomers have to take the time to observe all of the physical forces at play in the universe.

This means that they’re our best shot at understanding the cosmos, and they’re the ones responsible for our understanding of the universe today. To be honest with you, when you hear some interesting news about space, an astronomer was likely responsible.

Verdict

Astronomy is the physical study of the universe, if you want to look at it that way. While Astrology seeks to understand a bit of the supernatural, astronomy only looks at the measurable phenomena human beings can see and observe.

This is why astronomy has been the science behind the cosmos in the modern world, and why it likely will be for centuries. In the astronomy vs astrology debate, astronomy falls on the scientific side of things.

Astrology? What is it?

Astrology is actually much different than astronomy, and focuses on the nature of the universe. The use of astrology is one that determines how the forces of the universe impact someone’s moods, body, and mind.

Therefore, when you consider astrology, think of astrology as more of a mythical approach to the forces of the universe.

Now, with that being said, astrology is based off of things that can be observed like constellations.

Therefore, for the astrology portion of the astronomy vs astrology debate, we’ll be looking at the more spiritual aspects of our universe – like the signs of the zodiac.

Origins

The origins of astrology are much different than the origins of astronomy. This is due to the fact that evidence of astrology can be found well into the ancient times. This evidence is found within all different types of ancient civilizations, and philosophers from Ancient Greece were really big into the idea.

All sorts of ideas were born during the ancient era of mankind – because space has always been a bit of a mystery. This is why astrologists of the past were keen on answering those questions by their observations of the constellations.

The only difference is that in ancient times people had to guess and assume, whereas today we can actually make some pretty accurate measurements about space.

Astrology also heavily relies on the signs of the zodiac, which were established all the way back in the year 200 AD. Pretty crazy, right?

The signs of the zodiac are designed to be celestial representations of mankind, and each sign varies immensely.

The signs of the zodiac

If you’re not sure about what the signs of the zodiac are, or which sign you may be, here is a quick little guide that can help you out. Determine where your birthday falls, this will be your corresponding zodiac sign:

  • Cancer (June 22nd to July 22nd)
  • Gemini (May 21st to June 21st)
  • Taurus (April 20th to May 20th)
  • Aries (March 21st to April 19th)
  • Pisces (February 19th to March 20th)
  • Aquarius (January 20th to February 18th)
  • Capricorn (December 22nd to January 20th)
  • Sagittarius (November 23rd to December 21st)
  • Libra (September 24th to October 23rd)
  • Virgo (August 24th to September 23rd)
  • Leo (July 23rd to August 23rd)

Now, whichever sign you were born into, is supposed to determine your personality, likes, dislikes, and a whole lot more about yourself.

We could go on all day about each of the signs, but what you need to know, for now at least, is that the signs of the zodiac produce those horoscopes you hear about online and in newspapers.

Relevance

As we’ve mentioned earlier, astrology is considered a pseudoscience. This means that it’s not exactly considered accurate, but a lot of people swear by this way of thinking. If you don’t believe us, or believe there is no truth to this, consider giving your horoscope a read.

Anyway, in the modern world this is not exactly a relevant science per say, but it is something that does still get a lot of attention.

For example, if you flip open a newspaper, you’ll still find daily horoscopes towards the end. This shows that while astrology might not be a major field of science, there is still enough belief that it’s a subject that’s brought up often.

Plus, to be quite honest with you, astrology can be a whole lot more interesting than astronomy in some instances.

The verdict

Astrology is a field of thinking that relates space to the mind and body. It is a bit more spiritual in nature, but we’ll be the first to tell you that some things do line up quite nicely.

So, when you think about astrology, think of the signs of the zodiac and how they impact a person. In the astronomy vs astrology debate, astrology falls on the spiritual side of things.

Classic Books in the Astronomy vs Astrology Debate

Now that we’ve shown you details around the astronomy vs astrology debate, it’s time to look at some tools that can help you further understand each field of thinking.

If you’re someone who wants to explore the universe from the comfort of your couch, or someone who wants to be more in tune with the signs of the zodiac, this section is for you.

We’ll be looking at some great tools on each side of the astronomy vs astrology debate, which means there will definitely be something for you.

The Astrology Bible: The Definitive Guide to the Zodiac

If you’re someone who wants to learn more about the signs of the zodiac, and what each sign means, you’ll definitely want to check this book out.

This is due to the fact that this book really goes into a vast amount of detail on the subject. You’ll be shocked by how accurate each zodiac sign is, and even if it’s love that you’re looking for, you can find it in The Astrology Bible.


You can find The Astrology Bible: The Definitive Guide to the Zodiac on Amazon.

The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need

As the title suggests, if you want a really comprehensive book that deals with everything you need to know about astrology, this is the book for you.

Not only will this book show you about the signs of the zodiac, but it will also show you how the universe connects to us on a spiritual level.

So, if you’re someone who is big into astrology, or wants to understand the forces around us in a more spiritual sense, give this book a look.


You can find The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need on Amazon.

The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide

Now that we’ve shown you some great tools to further enhance your knowledge of astrology, it’s time to take a look at a guide that will help you understand space at a more physical level.

This guide comes with everything you need to know about astronomy, and will even show you some really interesting objects you can look at through a telescope.

Not only will you have to read, but this book will help guide you through the use of over 500 photos of our universe.


You can find The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide on Amazon.

What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky

If you’re not going to break out a telescope yourself, you’ll definitely want to check this guide out. This is due to the fact that this guide will actually take you on a visual tour of space, and will do so from the comfort of your own couch.

You’ll be able to view the constellations, the solar system, and even some of the planets you may be curious about. If you want to get into astronomy without the hassle, trust us on this one, this is the book for you.


You can find What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky on Amazon here:

BONUS: The Orion SpaceProbe

Now, if you really want to take a deep dive into astronomy or astrology, you’re going to need a telescope.

This is due to the fact that space is really something you’ll want to see through your own eyes, and while the guides we mentioned will definitely help, it’s going to require some extra effort on your part. This is why we want to recommend the Orion SpaceProbe telescope, because it’s excellent for beginners.

Here are some of the features you’ll find right out of the box:

  • 2 foot long tube
  • 5.1 inch aperture
  • EQ-2 mount
  • 26-power and 65-power through two different lenses (10mm and 25mm)
  • Starry night software
  • Everything you need to start is in the box (batteries included)

The main reason that we recommend the Orion SpaceProbe is due to the fact that it comes with everything you need. Plus, not only is it ready to go right out of the box, but you’ll also be welcomed by the Starry Night software. This is software will show you how to start viewing, what to look at, and even more.

If you want to check the Orion SpaceProbe out, you can find it on Amazon.

Whichever side of the astronomy vs astrology debate you fall on, you’ll definitely want to give these products a look. Not only will they teach you about the forces of the universe, but they can enhance your view if you’ll be using a telescope.

Astronomy vs Astrology – Recap

We know that we went over a lot of information today, but when it comes to astronomy vs astrology, there is a lot to look at. Two studies, which are now separate, started together years and years ago.

Plus, while astrology is more of a pseudoscience, astronomy seeks to understand the physics of the universe. This is why a lot of people consider astrology a myth, but to be honest with you, the signs of the zodiac are pretty accurate sometimes.

Each section we discussed went into detail about either astronomy or astrology, and we did get technical at some points, so make sure you read each section carefully. If you ever feel lost, or even want to prove your friends wrong in an astronomy vs astrology debate, please feel free to refer back to this post as a guide.

Whether you believe in astronomy or astrology is entirely up to you, but we encourage you to take some time to consider looking to both. You’ll be surprised by how much each field has in common, and you might learn about yourself along the way.

Seriously, the signs of the zodiac are no joke sometimes. Plus, if you ever need a guide to help you along the way, we definitely recommend that you check out some of the books we mentioned earlier.

Now that you know the facts, which side of the astronomy vs astrology debate do you fall on?

More articles you may be interested in…

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article. Astronomy vs Astrology is an age-old debate and an extremely interesting one. We’ve compiled a short-list of other articles here on AstroJunkies.com that you may find interesting. Be sure to check them out too: