Intro to Astronomy

What exactly is Astronomy?

Astronomy is commonly known as the study of celestial bodies and other natural phenomena beyond Earth. It incorporates mathematical subjects like calculus, and scientific subjects, like physics and chemistry. Astronomy consists of many branches, such as Astrobiology, Astrochemistry, Astrophysics, and Cosmology. Just as Astronomy is known to have a variety in the fields of study, the field's enthusiasts also have a variety of ways to indulge in the subject. While some people enjoy the subject as a hobby, others choose it to have as their career. People who enjoy Astronomy as a hobby, fulfill their endeavors through means, such as but not limited to, Astrophotography and/or joining a local astronomy club. Professional astronomers, on the other hand, work in government agencies, such as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and ESA (European Space Agency), or under various universities.

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Astronomy vs. Astrology

Many people tend to confuse Astronomy and Astrology and think that they are similar subjects. While the two subjects may seem the same because of the prefix "Astro" (the greek word for star), they are in fact very different. While Astronomy focuses on studying and expanding the knowledge of the Universe through scientific means, Astrology focuses on how the position of celestial bodies, such as stars, affect humans on Earth. Astrology had originally been used to help predict an individual's future through the position of twelve distinct constellations (commonly known as the zodiac constellations); in modern times, though, it tends to focus more on the significance of certain astronomical events, such as eclipses and planetary conjunctions, and the relations of celestial objects to humans. It is important to note that while Astrology does focus on the positioning of certain night-sky objects, it is not a scientific subject because it does not follow the scientific method.

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Bibliography

Astro- - WordReference.com Dictionary of English. https://www.wordreference.com/definition/astro-.

“Purposes of Astrology.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/astrology/Purposes-of-astrology.

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