Astrology is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs in which knowledge of the apparent relative positions of celestial bodies and related details is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters.

A practitioner of astrology is called an astrologer or an astrologist. Numerous traditions and applications employing astrological concepts have arisen since its earliest recorded beginnings in the 3rd millennium BC. It has played a role in the shaping of culture, early astronomy, and other disciplines throughout history.

Astronomy and astrology were often indistinguishable until the middle ages, with the desire for predictive and divinatory knowledge one of the primary motivating factors for astronomical observation. Astronomy began to diverge from astrology after a period of gradual separation from the Renaissance up until the 18th century.

Eventually, astronomy distinguished itself as the scientific study of astronomical objects and phenomena without regard to the astrological speculation of these phenomena.

Astrology can be defined as the study of the positions of celestial bodies in the belief that their movements either directly influence life on Earth or correspond somehow to events experienced on a human scale. Modern astrologers define astrology as a symbolic language and an art form, and a form of divination. Despite differences of definitions, a common assumption of astrology is the use of celestial placements in order to explain past and present events and predict the future.

Generally, the scientific community considers astrology a pseudoscience or superstition.. Despite its rejection by virtually all scientists, 31% of Americans polled expressed a belief in astrology and 39% considered it scientific according to another study.

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The argument is as old as the practice itself. Some vehemently postulate that astrology is a philosophy. Some lecture and debate that astrology is a science, and can be considered nothing else.

How does one begin to sort out their views on the subject?

Let us begin with the very words themselves.

Philosophy is the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, of knowledge, or of conduct. Additionally, philosophy is the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a particular branch of knowledge, esp. with a view to improving or reconstituting them. IE: the philosophy of science.

Science is a particular branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws.

Astrology, in today’s dictionaries, is defined as the study that assumes and attempts to interpret the influence of the heavenly bodies on human affairs. It was not until the late 17th century a differentiation began to limit the word “astrology” to “reading influences of the stars and their effects on human destiny.” Until that point astrology and astronomy were exactly the same thing.

Astrology is from the Greek word “astrologia” which means “science of the stars.” (astron “star” + -logia “treating of,” comb. form of logon “one who speaks in a certain manner”) Originally identical with astronomy, it had also a special sense of “practical astronomy, astronomy applied to prediction of events.” This was divided into natural astrology “the calculation and foretelling of natural phenomenon” (tides, eclipses, etc.), and judicial astrology “the art of judging occult influences of stars on human affairs” (also known as stromancy, 1652).

Astronomy is defined as the scientific study of matter in outer space, especially the positions, dimensions, distribution, motion, composition, energy, and evolution of celestial bodies and phenomena.

Astronomy is a system of knowledge or beliefs about celestial phenomena, and science is study dealing with facts or truths systematically arranged and show operation.

Thus, there is no difference between astrology and science.