Essay, Research Paper: Astrology

Astrology
Astrology is the study of how events that happened on earth depending of to the positions and movements of astronomical bodies, including the sun, the moon, planets, and stars. Astrologers (people that study astrology) believe that the position of astronomical bodies at the exact moment of a person’s birth and the following movements of the bodies reflect that person’s character and their destiny. For many years, scientists have rejected the principles of astrology. Still millions of people continue to believe it and practice it(Hebel).
Astrologers create graphs called horoscopes, which map the position of astronomical bodies at exact times, when a person is born. A horoscope is a circle, called the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the plane on which the earth orbits around the sun in a year. It is divided into twelve sections, called the Zodiac sings, which is made by Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Astrologers assign every planet (which in astrology includes the sun and moon) with a particular sign, depending on where that planet appears on the ecliptic at the time for which the horoscope is cast. Each planet represents basic human aspects, and each sign represents a amount of human characteristics.
Astrology is an ancient practice that different civilizations have develop independently. The Chaldeans, who lived in Babylonia (what is now Iraq), developed one of the original forms of astrology about 3000 BC. The Chinese were practicing astrology around 2000 BC. Other varieties formed in ancient India and among the Maya of Central America. Around the year 500 BC, astrology had spread throughout Greece, where philosophers like Pythagoras and Plato incorporated it into their study of religion and astronomy. Astrology was practiced in Europe through the Middle Ages, despite the opposition of such Christian leaders as Augustine, that became archbishop of Canterbury about 600 AD, many scholars viewed astrology and astronomy as helpful sciences until about the years 1500. During does times, the discoveries made by such astronomers like Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo Galilei help to clear some of the facts of astrology (Hebel).
Astrology is one of the earliest practices of science, its has been know and use for thousands of years, by early civilizations around the world, and it has been perfected as years has pass (Caraballo)



Bibliography


Bibliagraphy
Caraballo, Jose. “Astrology”New Encyclopedia Tematica. Mexico,Mexico.September, 1977.

Hebel, Doris A. “Astronomy” Encarta Ecyclopedia. Redmond, WA
1995.


Word Count: 383