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Astronomy

Astrology and astronomy were not separate but were considered a single discipline in many ancient and pre-modern traditions, including Babylonian, Greek, Chinese, and Mayan cultures. For centuries, observing the stars (astronomy) was performed by the same individuals who interpreted their meaning (astrology). The two fields only began to diverge significantly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment, as scientific methodologies led to their separation.

  • Shared ancient roots: In ancient civilizations, sky-watchers observed celestial movements for both practical reasons, such as agriculture and navigation, and for religious or divinatory purposes.
  • Integrated practice: In ancient Babylonia, for example, the roles of astronomer and astrologer were performed by the same person, who would predict celestial phenomena and interpret their influence.
  • Medieval Europe: During this period, astrology was still considered a scholarly tradition alongside astronomy, with the movement of celestial bodies believed to have a natural influence on earthly events and human temperaments.
  • Divergence during the Enlightenment: The development of the scientific method, with its emphasis on empirical evidence and reproducible results, led to a split between the two fields. Astronomy continued to develop as a physical science, while astrology was increasingly seen as a pseudoscience, having no empirical support.

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-is-the-difference-between-astronomy-and-astrology

[2] wikipedia/en/Astrology_and_astronomyWikipedia

[3] https://medium.com/@anmol.v1/stars-apart-yet-aligned-unveiling-the-cosmic-kinship-of-astronomy-and-astrology-120df70ffc8c

[4] https://interestingengineering.com/science/astrology-vs-astronomy-whats-the-difference

[5] https://www.billyandcharlie.com/planets/astronomy.html