Download Astronomy vs Astrology

Bellwork
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Start a list of things you know about
astronomy and astrology
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Create an astronomy/astrology ychart on a separate sheet of paper
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Leave room for a summary at the bottom
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Is astrology science?
(inquiry question)
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Notes (on a different page than
your y-chart)
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Essential question: How does astronomy
compare to astrology?
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Astronomy
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The scientific study of the universe beyond
the Earth
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Tells us about the origin, history and
structure of our universe and solar system
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Uses telescopes and satellites
Astrology
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The study that interprets how the positions
of the stars, planets and moon effect your
personality, fate, relationships etc
HOROSCOPE
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A prediction made based on the position of
the sun, moon and planets
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A chart or diagram showing the positions of
celestial bodies and interpreted for their
influence over human events
CONSTELLATION
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A group of stars in the same region of the
sky to which a name has been given
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Ex: Orion, Capricorn, Pegasus
Any of the 88 star patterns seen from Earth
named by ancient Greeks after animals,
objects or mythological figures
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13 Zodiac Constellations
5 Circumpolar Constellations
Ecliptic
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The imaginary line that traces the path of
the sun across the sky
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Moon and planets commonly fall on this path
Eclipses occur on this path
The zodiac constellations fall in this path
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Due to the constellation boundaries being redefined in
1930 by the International Astronomical Union, the path
of the ecliptic now officially passes through thirteen
constellations: the twelve traditional 'zodiac
constellations' plus Ophiuchus (the serpent bearer)
Zodiac
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A band of constellations found along the
ecliptic
Originally contained 12 signs or “houses”
The sun resides in each constellation for
approximately one month
PRECESSION
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The slow cone shaped motion of the
Earth’s axis of rotation
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The Earth wobbles as it rotates over a
25,800 year period
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This causes the zodiac constellations to
line up differently with the sun over long
periods of time
Bellwork
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Go back and add to your y-chart
Summarize the similarities and differences
between astronomy and astrology in 3
sentences.
Turn this in for a grade
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Signs of the Zodiac
Common Constellations
Aquarius: The Water Bearer
In Greek mythology, Aquarius is sometimes associated with
Troy. The myth has is that a young boy named Ganymede
was out tending to his fathers sheep when Zeus took interest
in this young beautiful boy. Zeus then turned himself into an
eagle and carried Ganymede to Mount Ide where Ganymede
would have to serve drinks to Zeus. But one day, Ganymede
didn't want to serve drinks anymore, so he poured out Zeus'
wine and water which caused a great flood. It was then said
instead of Zeus getting angry, he gave Ganymede
immortality and gave him the constellation Aquarius.
Incidentally, if the "Age of Aquarius" was celebrated in the
1960s, the real event is still some 600 years off: at that time
Aquarius will contain the vernal equinox, marking the return
of the Sun into the northern celestial hemisphere.
Aquarius: The Water Bearer
Aries: the Ram
Aries, "The Ram", is an ancient constellation which was of
considerable importance since the sun passed through it at
the vernal equinox.
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This point has now moved into Pisces, but the vernal equinox is
still known as the First Point of Aries. In another six hundred
years the point will have moved into Aquarius.
The Ram in question may have been the one whose golden
fleece was the object of Jason's quest.
There is some reason to believe that the Greeks just took
over a much older horned animal at this time of the year; the
horn being a symbol for fecundity, renewal, and so on. As the
Sun came into this constellation, at the vernal equinox, the
year itself was being renewed.
Aries: the Ram
Cancer The Crab
The name comes from the Latin; cancer
means crab. The crab in question is the
one sent by Hydra to attack Heracles. It
was only a bit part, but one which secured
its immortality.
Cancer
Gemini The Twins
Gemini, the Twins, are really only half-brothers.
They share the same mother (Leda) but have
different fathers. Castor's father was a king of
Sparta, Tyndareus - who would be chased from
his throne but later rescued by Heracles (who
nevertheless wound up killing him). The father of
Pollux was none other than Zeus, or Jupiter. Zeus
visited Leda on her wedding night in the guise of
a swan. Thus the twins, Castor and Pollux, would
be born. When Castor died, because he was
mortal, Pollux begged his father Zeus to give
Castor immortality, and he did, by uniting them
together in the heavens.
Gemini
Leo: The Lion
The first on the list of Heracles' labors was the
task of killing the Nemean Lion, a giant beast that
roamed the hills and the streets of the
Peloponnesian villages, devouring whomever it
met. The animal's skin was impervious to iron,
bronze, and stone. Heracles' arrows harmlessly
bounced off the lion; his sword bent in two; his
wooden club smashed to pieces. So Heracles
wrestled with the beast, finally choking it to death.
He then wrapped the lion's pelt about him; it
would protect him from the next labor: killing the
poisonous Hydra.
Leo
Libra: The Scales
Libra means "The Scales" or "Balance", so named because
when the zodiac was still in its infancy, some four thousand
years ago, the sun passed through this constellation at the
autumnal equinox (21 September). At the two equinoxes
(Spring and Autumn) the hours of daylight and darkness are
equal. As a symbol for equality, the constellation came to
represent Justice in several middle Eastern cultures.
However, the Greeks had a different perspective; at one time
Scorpius, which lies just to the east, was much larger, and
the stars that make up Libra were then known as the Claws
of the Scorpion.
Libra
Pisces: The Fish
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According to one Greek myth, Pisces represents
the fish into which Aphrodite and her son
Eros transformed in order to escape the
monster Typhon, the "father of all monsters" had been
sent by Gaia to attack the gods, which led Pan to warn
the others before himself changing into a goat-fish and
jumping into the Euphrates.
Pisces
Sagittarius
It was the Romans who named the constellation
Sagittarius ("sagitta" is Latin for `arrow'), although
several stars carry Arabic names which identify
just which portion of the constellation they
represent. Sagittarius has a muddled history. In
ancient times the asterism of three bright stars in
a curved line was seen as a bow to some, leading
both Greek and Roman writers to confuse the
constellation with Centaurus.
Sagittarius
Scorpius: The Scorpion
Gaia may have sent the scorpion to kill the mighty
hunter, as he had vowed to rid the earth of all wild
animals. Or Apollo might have told Gaia of Orion's
boast, fearful that Orion had designs on Apollo's
sister Artemis. In any case it was Gaia who sent
the scorpion to kill Orion. Later the animal would
chase Orion across the heavens, but it could
never catch him, for the scorpion was so placed
that it would rise in the east only after Orion had
safely disappeared over the western horizon.
Scorpius
Taurus: The Bull
Is Taurus attacking Orion, the Hunter, or are the
Horns of the Bull the real story? The horn was a
symbol of fertility and bountiful riches in many
cultures for thousands of years, and it is
probably the case here, for the constellation
would have announced the Vernal Equinox at
around 4000 BC. In Egypt, Taurus was seen as
the cow goddess Hathor. Hathor was the
goddess of beauty, love, and happiness, and
she represented all of the riches seen in cattle
as the providers of nourishment.
Taurus
Virgo: The Virgin
Virgo is the second largest constellation (after
Hydra). As a member of the Zodiac, Virgo has a
number of ancient myths and tales. The Sun
passes through Virgo in mid-September, and is
therefore the constellation that announces the
harvest. Virgo is often represented as a "maiden"
(as its name indicates). In antiquity, she may have
been Isis, the Egyptian protectress of the living
and the dead and the principal mother goddess.
Virgo
Capricornus: the goat
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In Greek mythology, the constellation is
sometimes identified as Amalthea, the goat
that suckled the infant Zeus after his
mother, Rhea, saved him from being
devoured by his father, Cronos. The goat's
broken horn was transformed into
the cornucopia or horn of plenty. Capricornus
is also sometimes identified as Pan, the god
with a goat's head, who saved himself from
the monster Typhon by giving himself a fish's
tail and diving into a river.
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Capricornus
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Time to share articles
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While someone else is presenting, you
need to write down one interesting or
important thing that you learn.
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By the end of class
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Turn in your y-chart
Turn in your Lab Safety one page
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