aries
Astrology vs. Astronomy: What Coordinate System to Use?
Introduction
As probably anyone who reads my blog knows, I have recently done a few blog posts related to astrology, specifically criticizing the astrologer Terry Nazon, both for her bad astronomy and for her threats and harassment towards me. My friend and much more famous anti-astrologer Phil Plait was even kind enough to mention me on his blog, though I’ll admit that I did point out my problems with Ms. Nazon.
This post is not about Ms. Nazon. This post is about astrology in general, and specifically whether my criticisms have been fair given that astrologers – some Western astrologers, anyway – use a different coordinate system and different definitions than the world’s astronomers.
Terry Nazon’s Astronomy: Just Plain Wrong
Introduction
I wanted to take a brief pause from writing lectures for the intro astronomy class I’m teaching (don’t worry guys, the one for tomorrow is already written!) and head down a different path for a few moments.
Some may consider me a glutton for punishment. Considering my recent run-in of being threatened by an astrologer, I’ve been following her a bit on Twitter to see what she’s up to in her astrological prognostications. And that’s what I want to talk about today.
Planet X and 2012 and Astrology: Exploring the Claims of Astrologer Terry Nazon on 2012, Part 1
tags :
- Scientific Skepticism
- 2012
- 2012 astrology
- 2012 doomsday
- aries
- astrology
- astronomy
- Conjunction
- december 21
- doomsday
- eclipse
- Exposing PseudoAstronomy
- galactic alignment
- gemini
- Jupiter
- Lunar eclipse
- maya
- mayan prophecy
- Occultation
- pisces
- Pluto
- Saturn
- solar cycle
- Solar eclipse
- spica
- taurus
- terry nazan
- Uranus
- Venus
Introduction
While I was supposed to be working today, I was looking at the upcoming Coast to Coast AM late-night George Noory -hosted radio show. Tonight, February 15, 2010, they’re having what has been termed an “Astrology Special” with three astrologers coming in. I went to each of their websites just to nose around, and I found a page on Terry Nazon’s site dedicated to “The Mayan Prophecy of 2012.”
I’m an astronomer. Astrology is to astronomy what alchemy is to chemistry (or, for those about to take the SATs: astrology:astronomy::alchemy:chemistry). And, I’ve written many, many posts on the non-event of Planet X and 2012 (Planet X, 2012, and Planet X and 2012 — yes, those are different). So, this particular woman has combined two things that I just couldn’t help myself to post a break-down.
