Meteorological astrology
Meteorological astrology or astrometeorology (from Greek ἄστρον, astron, "constellation, star"; μετέωρος, metéōros, "high in the sky"; and -λογία, -logia) is the practice of applying the astrological/astronomical placements of the Sun, Moon, and planets to attempt to forecast the weather.[1]
Astrometeorology is thousands of years old and based on astronomical positions that allegedly directly affect the weather on Earth. Ancient classical astrologers created weather forecasting known as meteorology by noting the positions of stars, planets, the Sun, and Moon. According to their texts, when planets occupy constellations as seen from Earth, and that are harmonious to one another, or that are favorable, the Earth in general experiences positive weather conditions. But when planets hold mathematical aspects that are discordant across regions of the Earth, the atmosphere responds and the weather is unseasonable.
For centuries, forecasting advance weather, especially medium and long-range, was applied because it was the only way to know when to plant crops, navigate the seas and to predict the climate months in advance in preparation for harsh winter seasons. Meteorological phenomena correlated to planetary configurations were recorded by the ancient Babylonians in the 2nd century BC.
Classical astrologers of note such as Claudius Ptolemy constructed a treatise on forecasting weather via astrological means, but it was not until the year 1686 that a large volume written in English was devoted only to astrometeorology by Dr. J. Goad in his book, Astro-Meteorologica published in London, England. Goad's volume consisted of principles and rules forecasting weather astrologically. Johannes Kepler recorded meteorological observations to support his belief that the conjunction of Saturn and the Sun would produce cold weather.[2]
References
- ↑ Jenks, Stuart (June 1983). "Astrometeorology in the Middle Ages". Isis. 74 (2): 185–210. doi:10.1086/353243. JSTOR 233102.
- ↑ Kusukawa, Sachiko (1999). "Kepler and Weather Prediction". University of Cambridge: Department of History and Philosophy of Science. Retrieved 11 Feb 2011.