Why is astrology so important?

Question

I mean it's interesting and all... but how does it help life here in earth? what benifits does this study possibly offer....

Answer 1

It isn't, and it doesn't. Only fools spend money on it.

Answer 2

Astrology is a lot of ancient nonsense based on illogical guessing about the future based on the positions of the planets from Mercury to Saturn in relation to the fixed stars.  It is fundamentally flawed but was originally based on the idea that if the seasons could be predicted by the rising of certain stars at certain places then maybe other events could be too.  It is a case of when something happens after something else, people imagine that the first thing caused the second.  That is the basis of all magic.

Astronomy was important in the past as it was essential to correct time keeping and also to accurate navigation and land surveying.  You can fix your position on the ground by observation of the time and the positions of certain stars.  Until about 1940 virtually all navigation was by the stars, the Sun and Moon.

But since about 1850 people have been able to estimate the distances and the compositions of the stars.  This has only got more and more accurate since.  It is now obvious that the properties of the Universe as a whole are intimately controlled by such things as quantum physics and relativity, which are also important in understanding how our own Sun works and also more practical stuff like nuclear reactors.

You ask why so much money is spent.  If you compare the expenditure on space exploration and astronomy with that on welfare, elementary education or the military you will find that it is actually quite small. Most countries would spend more on welfare in two weeks than they would spend on astronomy in a year.

Another comparison is why do we spend so much money on pop music that is almost forgotten in 5 years?  Astronomical discoveries are remembered for centuries.  

Answer 3

Do you mean astronomy?  There's a lot we can learn from the way the universe runs.  I think at the rate humanities going, we will have to leave the Earth eventually, and we want to get prepared as soon as possible.  Plus, by learning the nature of certain heavenly bodies, we can determine the history of our part of the solar system and learn to deal with cosmic disasters if the arrive.

Astrology on the other hand has no importance at all.  It's not based on any real science and is not very accurate.

Answer 4

your CD-player at home is a direct spinoff of astonomy

just with obeservations in astronomy and experiments on earth it was possible to figure how a laser (diode) works.

astronomy delivers science data which helps to interpret the structure of matter and helps answering questions where we came from etc.

if we don't don't invest in astronomy others will do and benefit from findings

Answer 5

Basic research always proceeds practical developments for the everyday person.

Here's a quick list of some of the things that have come from space exploration - http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinof...

Besides any of that, even if we never got anything practical from it, don't you think it's a noble pursuit to spend our time trying to learn how this big beautiful universe works?

Answer 6

ASTRONOMY IS IMPORTANT!

ASTROLOGY IS RETARDED!

Answer 7

There certainly is a difference between astronomy and astrology. Astronomy is science and astrology is a bunch of bologna. Astronomy is important because it helps us expand as a civilization and helps us understand where we have come from and how we fit into the universe. Lack of knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Answer 8

Do you mean astronomy?....astronomy is important for many reasons, astronomers help find new Planets and Stars, astronomers also look at Asteroids and Comets and plot there path through the solar systems keeping an eye on them to make sure there not headed towards us.

Answer 9

I agree with jondalar469.  

Answer 10

astronomy is so important becuase it's one of the single most influental factors that took man from a roaming group of hunters to what you know today as humanity....

without astronomy there would be no star maps, and early exploration likely would have never happened the same way (people may have 'explored' but there would never be a plan to return.... because there's no way they would be able to find their way back once you go so far.... and exploring the oceans would be 10x harder then exploring land masses without stars....

Answer 11

Astronomy (and its mathematically highpowered sibling astrophysics) helps us to understand the universe and nature's laws. Understanding of that kind usually ends up helping people, sooner or later. For example, nuclear physics, which made it possible to generate nuclear energy, began as a compartment of astrophysics that related to figuring out how the sun could keep shining so brightly for so long.

And, of course, it has always been a goal of life on Earth to find new places to colonize, to populate, new places into which to bring culture and wisdom, life and love and babies. Eventually Earth will lose its ability to support life. Unless the life that evolved here finds new gardens in which to grow, all of it will become extinct within two billion years. But if we do our parts correctly, then the seed of Earthly life can, in whatever form it will someday take, have a much longer and larger part to play in the evolution of the universe.

Answer 12

Do you mean astronomy?

Astrology is a superstition.

Answer 13

I don't think astrology is important.

I think they're all lies/guesses.