Argonavis
29-11-2005, 11:08 PM
At 7:08 AEST tomorrow the Sun will slip quietly into the constellation of Ophiuchus. We will not notice, as the intense rays of Sol will cause sufficient glare and be scattered by the atmosphere so that no celestial objects other than the yellow orb are visible.
*begin rant*
Many amateur astronomers quote this as evidence of the absurdity of astrology, that there really is 13 zodiacal constellations, not 12, and that this fact invalidates the entire edifice of astrology. This is incorrect. This is just an argument based on terminology and nomenclature, not real data.
The constellation boundaries as we now know them were established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1931. The entire celestial sphere was carved up into 88 constellations at this time. Prior to the establishment of these boundaries, it was difficult to designate where an object was if it was between the recognised constellation figures.
The astrology of the Greeks, passed down through Ptomley’s “Tetrabiblos" (the same Ptomley of the "Almagest") saw the circle of the animals as comprised of 12 signs, each occupying 30 degrees of the ecliptic. The first sign of the zodiac, Aries, occupies the first 30 degrees of the ecliptic west of the vernal equinox, the second, Taurus, the next 30 etc etc. Since Ptomley, the Vernal Equinox has moved about 30 degrees along the ecliptic due to precession of the Earth's axis. The first 30 degrees of the zodiac from the vernal equinox is now in Pisces, overlapping into Aquarius, as designated by the IAU. This is the astrological sign of the Ram. Astrology does not necessarily tie itself to the actual constellations. Nor is the supreme confidence of astrologers dented by the discovery of any new planets from Uranus on. The system used by astrologers is far more robust, relying on the credulity and gullibilty of most of the species. Besides, when there is a lot of money in it, you don't need any rigourous proof, credibility or respectibility. Two thousand years of opposition by both the Christian and Moslem churches has not dented astrology, much less has it been dented by the revelations of the scientific revolution. Experiments have been done with US College classes all being given identical horoscopes (after being told it was specific to the time, place and date of their birth previously provided by each individual) and well over 80% describe the horoscope description of themselves as very accurate. Most of us are so narcisstic that we really don't believe that we have anything in common we the people who surround us.
The fact is, there is hundreds of studies of astrology by well meaning researches (often from the softer end of the sciences) that have all come up negative. Nothing. No predictability of personailty traits or future events. It is a long, extensive and sad inditement of astrology using double blind trials, psychometic testing, and statistical proof all to come up with...nothing. Astrology has no falsifiable theories or hard cold evidence. Absolutely nothing supports this voodoo. Some years ago a respectable French researcher (whose name I will not attempot to spell) claimed to find a correlation between people's occupation and the time of their birth and whether and what planets where rising at the time. The research of this man is still quoted by believers. Unfortunatley, no one has replicated it, despite numerous attempts. Any sane rational human being would have rejected astrology long ago. Yet it has mass appeal. If medical science was run like this it would be a very sick world.
PM me if you would like a list of papers.
By the way, all you Ophiuchians born between 30 November and 18 December I can predict that you will be coming into money (it probably happens every week or two), you will go on a long journey (mostly to work every day), will experience some loss (car keys are a favourite) and will overindulge in things that are not good for you (well it is almost Christmas).
*end rant*
*begin rant*
Many amateur astronomers quote this as evidence of the absurdity of astrology, that there really is 13 zodiacal constellations, not 12, and that this fact invalidates the entire edifice of astrology. This is incorrect. This is just an argument based on terminology and nomenclature, not real data.
The constellation boundaries as we now know them were established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1931. The entire celestial sphere was carved up into 88 constellations at this time. Prior to the establishment of these boundaries, it was difficult to designate where an object was if it was between the recognised constellation figures.
The astrology of the Greeks, passed down through Ptomley’s “Tetrabiblos" (the same Ptomley of the "Almagest") saw the circle of the animals as comprised of 12 signs, each occupying 30 degrees of the ecliptic. The first sign of the zodiac, Aries, occupies the first 30 degrees of the ecliptic west of the vernal equinox, the second, Taurus, the next 30 etc etc. Since Ptomley, the Vernal Equinox has moved about 30 degrees along the ecliptic due to precession of the Earth's axis. The first 30 degrees of the zodiac from the vernal equinox is now in Pisces, overlapping into Aquarius, as designated by the IAU. This is the astrological sign of the Ram. Astrology does not necessarily tie itself to the actual constellations. Nor is the supreme confidence of astrologers dented by the discovery of any new planets from Uranus on. The system used by astrologers is far more robust, relying on the credulity and gullibilty of most of the species. Besides, when there is a lot of money in it, you don't need any rigourous proof, credibility or respectibility. Two thousand years of opposition by both the Christian and Moslem churches has not dented astrology, much less has it been dented by the revelations of the scientific revolution. Experiments have been done with US College classes all being given identical horoscopes (after being told it was specific to the time, place and date of their birth previously provided by each individual) and well over 80% describe the horoscope description of themselves as very accurate. Most of us are so narcisstic that we really don't believe that we have anything in common we the people who surround us.
The fact is, there is hundreds of studies of astrology by well meaning researches (often from the softer end of the sciences) that have all come up negative. Nothing. No predictability of personailty traits or future events. It is a long, extensive and sad inditement of astrology using double blind trials, psychometic testing, and statistical proof all to come up with...nothing. Astrology has no falsifiable theories or hard cold evidence. Absolutely nothing supports this voodoo. Some years ago a respectable French researcher (whose name I will not attempot to spell) claimed to find a correlation between people's occupation and the time of their birth and whether and what planets where rising at the time. The research of this man is still quoted by believers. Unfortunatley, no one has replicated it, despite numerous attempts. Any sane rational human being would have rejected astrology long ago. Yet it has mass appeal. If medical science was run like this it would be a very sick world.
PM me if you would like a list of papers.
By the way, all you Ophiuchians born between 30 November and 18 December I can predict that you will be coming into money (it probably happens every week or two), you will go on a long journey (mostly to work every day), will experience some loss (car keys are a favourite) and will overindulge in things that are not good for you (well it is almost Christmas).
*end rant*