Talk:Astrology

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Precession changing the dates

A brief skim didn't reveal this already in the article, but a point worth mentioning is that the dates given for each sign have shifted since those were observed ages ago. For example: on the first of January, when the right ascension of the sun is approximately 280° 36', the sun is actually in Sagittarius, not Capricorn as it was in the past. Also interesting is how Ophiuchus, despite taking up more space than various other constellations on the ecliptic, gets completely skipped because it doesn't happen to lie on one of the 30° increments. Similarly, how each constellation doesn't take up 30 degrees on the ecliptic but wildly varying lengths. Maybe I'll be bothered to draft up a table of actual dates for each constellation (going by the boundary defined for each). —Kazitor, ^pending 08:04, 16 January 2018 (UTC)

Zodiac § table of dates has the actual dates for each. —Kazitor, ^pending 08:05, 16 January 2018 (UTC)

Got around to adding a bit. Might need cleaning for those who aren't much into astronomy. —Kazitor, ^pending 01:03, 13 May 2018 (UTC)

How to remember the difference

A Dara Ó Briain quote.

"Astrology, logy, log, unit of poo. Astronomy, nomy, nom, nom nom nom Brian Cox is delicious!"

Astrology is not a pseudoscience. It is based on scientific fact. 104.151.242.85 (talk) 17:39, 6 September 2023 (UTC)

Uses of astrology

• 'Entertainment and employment' (eg writing the astrology columns in the newspapers and those reading them being entertained by how wrong their particular entry is).
• A means of creative decision making equivalent to coin-flipping/justifying a decision already made.
• Especially in olden times - a means of, and reason for, finding patterns.
• Again, mostly in olden times, a way of advising the ruler and others that reduced some of the risks to the advisers/encouraged the leaders to avoid procrastination etc. Anna Livia (talk) 15:28, 22 March 2019 (UTC)

Worth including if there's a snarky enough way to frame it. If you can soak that faint praise in the rarified derision it deserves, it'll come out as a delicious snide remark. ikanreed ^{🐐Bleat at me} 15:34, 22 March 2019 (UTC)

Who hasn't applied the first two (including 'reading the entries and picking the one you like best') on occasion; the third is linked to calendar making etc - and the last might be a rational policy for councillors etc (especially when failure or wrong advice may have negative consequences, the real reasons are too technical for the person being advised or 'a face saving reason' is required. Anna Livia (talk) 16:07, 22 March 2019 (UTC)

I don't believe in Astrology....

...but of course I don't, because I'm a Capricorn! We're always skeptical! BeardOfZeus (talk) 23:42, 26 August 2021 (UTC)

…while the Earth, at least according to Cardinal Ussher, is a Libra. Mr Larrington (talk) 19:02, 28 September 2022 (UTC)