Is Astrology a Science?

Is astrology a science? With various divination systems out there, it is quite hard to define the borderline between astrology and science. However, the best part is that both fields more or less talk about the same thing – how celestial bodies can influence our lives. Is astrology a science? Astrology can be defined as a form of divination that is founded on the belief that life on Earth is influenced by celestial bodies and its alignments. Astrology is generally about the alignment of the planets and stars at the time of a person’s birth somehow can influence the nature and future of one’s life. In this article, we will try to delve how is astrology a science?

Is Astrology a Science: The Scientific Tests

Is astrology a science? Astrology has been subjected to various scientific testing over time. Here’s the thing though, every single test results have been quite disastrous – not really proving anything. If astrology is just pure science, it would have easily passed these tests. The fact that it has not could arguably mean that it is not science.

If for instance, we get 12 people who are born under different zodiac signs in front of an astrologer, and we ask him/ her to identify each of their zodiac signs based on their individual traits, do you think the astrologer would be able to do that? Spontaneously?

If astrology follows a scientific method or process, the astrologer would surely be able to pull of such task with ease just like a scientist. But many people believe that astrology is a field founded from superstitious beliefs and was only developed on a fragile base when the field of astronomy and astrology were considered as one and the same.

Ancient Discoveries

Is astrology a science? The astrology field that we now know today was developed around 2,000 years ago back when humans have limited knowledge of how the Universe works. Back then, people believe that the Earth is the center because the Sun and the Moon revolved around it. When other planets were eventually discovered, this belief change and many things were then taken into consideration. Astronomers and scientists eventually learned that the Sun is the center and not our planet.

Over the course of time, people discovered more celestial bodies like other planets, stars and even galaxies. The human race realized that our solar system is just a tiny part of the Universe. That our Sun is just one in a zillion stars, and that there are more planets than we can ever imagine. All of these discoveries were never incorporated into the field of Astrology. Even today, many astrologers still hold on to the outdated beliefs that people held many years ago. 

Is astrology a science? There is, however, a development in astrology (though many astrologers still don’t acknowledge the new sign). They added a 13^th zodiac sign called Ophiuchus. Probably, the reason why many astrologers don’t acknowledge this new constellation is because their previous predictions could be questioned. The main difference between science and astrology is that if a new finding comes out or is published, it is subjected to a review. Scientists and researchers will do a peer review to see if it the results can be replicated over and over again. When it comes to the field of astrology, as you just read, new discoveries are either neglected or refuted.

Is Astrology a Science: The Constellations Fiasco

Is astrology a science? If you’ve been following the horoscope for Capricorn because you’re born between December 22 and January 21, then you will be disappointed to hear that you’ve been following the wrong zodiac sign since a 13^th constellation is added. Astrologers have failed to update the basic premise of its foundation which is the constellations.

The Sun appears to move on an ecliptic path across the 12 zodiac constellations. It spends around a month in each. This is why the constellation in which the Sun rises at the time a person is born will automatically be his/ her zodiac sign. This may theoretically sound but there’s just a slight conflict.   

The zodiac sign that’s assigned to a particular month is not really based on the constellation in which the Sun rises today, at a time where we know better. It was based on the constellation that our ancestors used back then – when astrology and even science is still in its developmental phase. This can be the source of all inaccuracies for the field of astrology.

Axial Precision

Is astrology a science? What makes astrology quite inaccurate at least from a scientific point of view is the Axial Precision. This is the gradual shift in the orientation of the Earth’s axis. Axial precision brought major changes in the alignment of celestial bodies which in turn has affected the zodiac dates. If for instance you are a Capricorn (since you’re born on the first fortnight of January), but following on the current alignment, you’re really a Sagittarius, not a Capricorn.  

The Sun while cruising along the ecliptic path, spends more time in the 13^th zodiac, the Ophiuchus constellation, more than the Scorpius constellation. What is more surprising is that Ophiuchus has been in the picture for many years but it’s just being ignored by astrologers for some reason. The Babylonians are probably the main culprit. The reason why they decided to ignore Ophiuchus is that because they wanted to have an even number – and probably because 13 is considered as an unlucky number. Today, many astrologers are forced to ignore this constellation because of this reason.

This is not to say that adding Ophiuchus will put the field of astrology on the right path but the fact that they don’t want to acknowledge its existence means that they are doing an injustice on their field itself.

Is Astrology a Science: The Unknown Force

For some reason, astrologers believe that only a chosen few celestial bodies can influence the lives of people. Some say that gravity is one of the factors. This could have been a correct answer if the Relative Planetary Gravity of the Moon is greater than that of Jupiter. For astrologers, the distance doesn’t matter, and that the influence of Planet Jupiter is powerful than that of the Moon. These things are not aligned with scientific facts. The easiest way out of these questions is to say that an ‘unknown force’ behind all of it. Is astrology a science? Definitely, a no.