![sidereal astrology sidereal astrology](https://www.astrolada.com/bin/media/13/513_media.jpg)
Around 3000 years later the same thing happened again. As a result, four new constellations were created. Thanks to precession these astronomical markers shifted, and by 3500 BCE these four constellations no longer marked the solstices and equinoxes. The first four mark the position of the Sun at the two solstices and two equinoxes around 6500 BCE. Emily Winterburn, Curator of Astronomy at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, has theorised that the constellations of the zodiac didn’t arrive all at once but rather in groups of four, and in three stages roughly 3000 years apart. Precession then, has made astrology quite complicated, but it may also have influenced the creation of the constellations within the zodiac, way back in ancient Mesopotamia. This belt covers 12 constellations, and astrologers believe they are of great significance.Īstrology and the origins of the constellations The paths of the Moon and visible planets are also within the belt of the zodiac. The zodiac is an area of the sky that extends roughly 8 degrees north or south of the ecliptic - the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. Our astrological star signs are all based on the constellations - the patterns in the stars - that form the zodiac.
![sidereal astrology sidereal astrology](https://astro-calendar.com/pics/tropical_sidereal/image008.gif)
While all this may provide some interesting background and context to astrology, it doesn’t answer the question that’s so frequently asked of us in the Planetarium, “where can I find my star sign?” This is not an easy question to answer, because your star sign may not actually be what you think it is.
![sidereal astrology sidereal astrology](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/76/81/a4/7681a4854fdc087e68a1d00479187ac4.jpg)
This was possibly due to a number of scientific developments such as the invention of the telescope and a Sun-centred Universe becoming the standard model. He described astronomy as “the wise but poor mother who should starve should her daughter, astrology, not support her.”Īstrology didn’t start to lose its scientific respectability until the latter half of the 17th Century. The 17th Century astronomer Johannes Kepler, famous for his laws of planetary motion, was also well known in his day for his horoscopes. They collected the data, while the astrologers had the glamorous job of interpreting that data. The first astronomical records were kept to help the astrologers read and understand omens.Īstronomers were just the bean counters. Astronomy was merely, as Hugh of St Victor described it in his 12th Century writings, the practical arm of astrology. But it wasn’t exactly an equal relationship. Until relatively recently, astrology and astronomy went hand in hand. Without astrology we probably wouldn’t know half as much about astronomy as we do today, and I may well be out of a job! Astronomy - astrology's "poor mother" It’s also fair to say that astronomers owe astrologers a tremendous debt. The study of astrology reveals a great deal, not just about science, but also world history. Following my research, I can’t say I’m a believer but I must admit to a new found respect for astrology. I decided to do some research into the topic, in order to make myself better equipped to answer some of the astrological based questions that we receive in the Planetarium. We’re living in a time of great political and economic uncertainty and it’s small wonder that people are looking for something to believe in. If I’m honest I’ve always shared the skepticism of the astronomical community, although I understand why so many find it appealing. In a 2014 tweet, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson lumped astrology in with Scientology and declared that “Just because you can append an -ology to a word, does not make it based in objective reality.” Astronomers are generally dismissive of astrology. Social media is filled with astrology related memes and there are even apps that can write your horoscope for you.Īstronomy is very different to astrology - it involves the use of mathematics, physics, and chemistry to study celestial objects, space, and the physical Universe as a whole. It’s enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years, particularly among millennials. Is astrology different from astronomy?Īstrology is a pseudoscience that involves studying the movements and relative positions of celestial objects in an attempt to divine information about human affairs and the natural world. Astrology is a topic that comes up a lot during these discussions.įor example, we are often asked “where can I find my star sign?” This is a very interesting question with an answer that involves more science and history than you might imagine. One of my favourite aspects of being a member of the Planetarium presenter team at We the Curious is talking to visitors after a show and discovering what they're curious about.