Stars, moons, planets; all of these are key focuses in both astrology and astronomy, but what’s the difference? Both study celestial bodies, but while astronomy is the science dealing with them, astrology studies them with a more philosophical approach.
Astronomy
Astronomy is the study of everything in the universe beyond Earth. Astronomers use tools such as telescopes to better understand everything out there beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Astronomy is classified as an observational science, due to the fact that you cannot touch celestial objects (with a few exceptions). Over the years, astronomers have discovered some really cool things, such as the fact that asteroids can have rings and moons, and that precious metals like silver and gold are produced when dead stars collide!
Astrology
Unlike astronomy, astrology is not a science. Astrology is a form of divination used to predict earthly events. Astrological beliefs state that the influence of planets and stars affects everyday life on Earth. The zodiac is an example of an aspect of astrology. Recognize it? The zodiac is divided into twelve signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. The outcome of an event is believed to be affected by the zodiacal positions of the sun, moon, and planets in astrological beliefs.
To conclude, while astrology and astronomy both involve celestial bodies, they are not the same. While astronomy is the science that deals with them, astrology uses celestial bodies to predict Earthly events. Though they may be different, both involve some pretty cool stuff!
Works Cited
“Astrology | Definition, History, Symbols, Signs, & Facts.” Britannica, 20 April 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/astrology. Accessed 15 May 2025.
Miyasaka, Masahiro, et al. “15 awe-inspiring space and astronomy discoveries | Royal Observatory.” Royal Museums Greenwich, https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/15-awe-inspiring-astronomy-discoveries. Accessed 15 May 2025.
“Outer space – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.” Simple Wikipedia, https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_space. Accessed 15 May 2025.
“What is Astronomy? | AMNH.” American Museum of Natural History, https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/astronomy/what-is-astronomy. Accessed 15 May 2025.
“What is Astronomy? | Department of Astronomy.” OSU Astronomy, https://astronomy.osu.edu/undergraduates/prospective/what-astronomy. Accessed 15 May 2025.
“Zodiac | Signs, Dates, Symbols, & Facts.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/zodiac. Accessed 15 May 2025.
