Introduction to Astronomy
Astronomy vs Astrology
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
• Much of the evidence used by science can be interpreted in many
ways. (As we saw yesterday)
• But evidence can also be interpreted without using scientific
principles.
• So… What makes something a science?
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
Astronomy vs. Astrology
Astronomy
Astrology
• The study of celestial objects,
their movements and
interactions
• The study of how celestial
movements affect human
actions
• Take a minute and look at the articles on your table and
underline or highlight what you think qualifies as scientific
statements, procedures, or thinking.
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
Astrology as a Science
• What is scientific about astrology?

Focus on the natural world

Attempt to explain the natural world

Use testable ideas or hypothesis
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
Astrology as a Science
• What is not scientific about astrology?

Relies on evidence

Involves the scientific community

Leads to ongoing evidence

Researchers behave scientifically
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
Science vs. Pseudoscience
Science
Pseudoscience
• Holds to all seven scientific
criteria
• Holds to some but not all of the
scientific criteria
• Astronomy holds to all seven and is thus a science
• Astrology holds to only three and is thus a pseudoscience
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
The Zodiac
• Your zodiac sign is the one constellation that cannot be seen
during the time of your birth.
• It is on the other side of the sun, so its only visible during the
day, when it can’t be seen.
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
The Zodiac
• The 12 zodiac signs that correspond to specific dates of the year
Aries: March 21 – April 19
Taurus: April 20 – May 20
Gemini: May21 – June 20
Cancer: June 21 – July 22
Leo: July 23 – August 22
Virgo: August 23 – September 22
Libra: September 23 – October 22
Scorpio: October 23 – November 21
Sagittarius: November 22 –
December 21
Capricorn: December 22 – January 19
Aquarius: January 20 – February 18
Pisces: February 19 – March 20
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
The Real Zodiac
• Notice any differences…
Aries: April 18 – May 13
Taurus: May14 – June 20
Gemini: June 21 – July 19
Cancer: July 20 – August 9
Leo: August 10 – September 15
Virgo: September 16 – October 29
Libra: October 30 – November 22
Scorpio: November 23 –
November 28
Ophiuchus: November 29 –
December 17
Sagittarius: December 17 – January 20
Capricorn: January 20 – Feb 16
Aquarius: Feb 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11 – April 19
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
Precession
• The dates used in the zodiac are from over 2,000 years ago
• And the earth wobbles
• As the changes position its called precession
• This causes the constellations to appear in the
night sky at different dates and in different
places
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
Precession
What the sky looks like
now
What the sky looked
like in 1400
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
Other Pseudosciences
• Ancient Aliens
• Astrology
• Autodynamics
• Bermuda Triangle
• Electrodynamics
• Flat Earth
• Free Energy
• Hollow Earth
• Millenarianism
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015
Intro to Astronomy: The oldest science
Sources
Cover image from www.suggestkeyword.com
Corner image from www.shutterstock.com
“Astrology: Is It Scientific?." Understanding Science. University of California
Museum of Paleontology. Retrieved 18 August 2015
http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/astrology_checklist
Friedman, M. [Jan. 13, 2011] Horoscope Hang-Up: Earth Rotation Changes
Zodiac Signs. Time Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2015
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/13/horoscope-hang-up-earth-rotationchanges-zodiac-signs/
Created by Joshua Toebbe NOHS 2015