Astrology and astronomy

Astrology and astronomy were archaically treated together (Latin: astrologia), but gradually distinguished through the Late Middle Ages[1] into the Age of Reason. Developments in 17th century philosophy resulted in astrology and astronomy operating as independent pursuits by the 18th century.

Whereas the academic discipline of astronomy studies observable phenomena beyond the Earth's atmosphere,[2][3][4] the pseudoscience of astrology uses the apparent positions of celestial objects as the basis for divination.[5][6][7]

  1. ^ Pedersen, Olaf (1993). "Chapter Eighteen: Medieval Astronomy". Early physics and astronomy : a historical introduction (Rev. ed.). Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-0521403405.
  2. ^ "astronomy – Britannica Concise". Concise.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  3. ^ "Ontario Science Centre: Glossary of Useful Scientific Terms". Ontariosciencecentre.ca. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Outer Space Glossary". Library.thinkquest.org. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  5. ^ "astrology – Britannica Concise". Concise.britannica.com. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  6. ^ "The Skeptic Dictionary's entry on astrology". Skepdic.com. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  7. ^ "Astrology". Bad Astronomy. 2 July 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.