Astronomy

relevant to Astrology
Dr Chaman Chandel
Jyotish Praveen (First Semester)
PAPER - I PAPER - II
•PART-I GENERAL ASTROLOGY •PART-1 MATHEMATICAL ASTROLOGY
• Topic 1. Time Measure
• Topic 1 : Introduction to Astrology • Topic 2. Time Differences
• Topic 2 : Relevance of Astrology • Topic 3. Time Conversion
• Topic 3 : History of Astrology • Topic 4. Sidereal Time
• Topic 4 : Astrology & Karma Theory • Topic 5. Sunrise & Sunset
• Topic 5 : Astrology, Modern Science & Psychology • Topic 6. Panchanga
•PART-II ASTRONOMY RELEVANT TO ASTROLOGY • Topic 7. Horoscopes
• Topic 1 : Introduction • Topic 8. Ascendant
• Topic 2 : The Solar System • Topic 9. Planetary Positions
• Topic 3 : The Earth • Topic 10. Dasha System
• Topic 4 : The Moon • Topic 11. Casting of Horoscope (Modern)
• Topic 5 : Zodiac • Topic 12 . Bhavas
• Topic 6 : Eclipses • Topic 13. Varga Charts
• Topic 7 : Aprakashit Upagrahas •PART-2 PREDICTIVE ASTROLOGY
• Topic 8 : Ayanamsha • Topic 1 : Basic Components of Prediction
• Topic 9 : Planetary Motion • Topic 2 : The Rashis (Signs)
• Topic 10 : Astronomical Coordinate System: • Topic 3 : The Lagna
Terminology, Horizontal & Equatorial Coordinate • Topic 4 : The Bhavas (Houses)
System • Topic 5 : The Navagrahas (Nine Planets)
• Topic 6 : The Nakshatras (Constellations)
• Topic 7 : The Yogas (Astrological Combinations)
Astronomy, the science that deals with the universe beyond the Earth. It describes the
nature, position, and motion of the stars, planets, and other objects in the skies, and
their relation to the Earth.

It is Astronomy which can explain everything that we observe in the Universe. More
generally, astronomy studies everything that originates beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

The Astronomy uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their
origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae,
galaxies, and comets.

Astronomy was born out of humankind’s ancient fascination with the star-studded sky.
The early civilizations in recorded history made methodical observations of the night
sky.
It is difficult to guess how drawn our ancestors were to that over whelming sight from the
role that sky-watching played in their lives.

To acquire the mastery of this science is almost the labour of the Life. The literature is
exhaustless. The utmost stretch of imagination can scarcely comprehend its boundless reach.

It is often quoted fact that the successive waves of emigration from BHARAT to different
parts of the world, founding colonies and settlements made headway in imparting the
knowledge of Astronomy among other subjects.

The SANKALP which every devout HINDU knows well and which is recited at every
ceremony is the Key to unfold the view of the TIME at which the EARTH assumed its
present form.

The Divya year’s, Ordinary year’s, Manvantar’s, and Yug’s are based on
Astronomical observations.
This 4,32,000 number is almost known to Astro lovers in our country, which had been
given to mankind by our Rishi’s. One fact I found that this very number is explained in
Norse Mythology giving the same sense as we have read and understood. For more
fascinating aspects on astronomy Astro lovers may read :

“ Theogony of Hindus“ Authored by a Scandinavian author Mr Count M. Bjornstjerna in

& around 1844 AD. Published in London Gr. Britain.

To show the heights in astronomical studies by humankind, an example of polarity and

human’s connection with nature and time-honored practices, with all humbleness and
courtesy, I quote from the HINDU SUPERIORITY authored by Shri Har Bilas Sarda ji
(First published in November 1906.)
(Part II PAGES 327 onwards)
 INTRODUCTION

Definition of astronomy

The study of objects and matter outside the earth's atmosphere and of their
physical and chemical properties. The scientific study of stars , planets and
other objects in outer space.

The Difference Between Astronomy and Astrology

Some may find it easy to confuse astronomy and astrology. At one time,
these two words actually were synonymous (that is, astronomy once meant
what astrology means today), but they have since moved apart from each
other.

In current use, astronomy is concerned with “the study of objects and matter
outside the earth's atmosphere,” while astrology is the purported divination
of how stars and planets influence our lives.
Before proceeding to the Solar System, we may explain the terms stars, planets and
satellites.
Stars: Stars are self-luminous bodies which emit light and heat in the space. The Sun
is a star. Stars are grouped into constellations.

Planets: Besides the fixed stars, the Sun and the Moon, there are other heavenly
bodies visible to the naked eye and moving around the Sun. As their motion is
whimsical among the fixed stars, they are called planets or wandering stars. A fixed
star appears twinkling while the planets shine with steady light. The planets which
can be seen by the naked eye are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, while the
other planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are seen only with the help of telescopes.

Satellite: Satellites are those heavenly bodies which move around the planets and in
turn move around the Sun along with the planets and are normally called moons of
the planets, like the Moon which is a satellite of the Earth.
Solar System: The Solar System made up of the Sun, planets, satellites, comets, minor
planets, and interplanetary dust, gas etc. It is a very small part of the Universe and seems
important to us only because we happen to live inside it.

As the Sun is also a star and is at one focus of the orbits of all the planets revolving
around it, the system is called the Solar System.

In this system, only the Sun is emitting light. Rest of the family members of the Solar
System are revolving around it and are non-luminous.

The other important members of this family viz. the planets, satellites to various planets,
comets, minor planets, meteors, meteorites etc. also form part of the Solar System.
Our Solar System is centered round the Sun and the planets are moving in elliptical orbits
around it.
There are nine planets in all i.e.
Mercury,
Venus,
Earth,
Mars,
Jupiter,
Saturn,
Uranus,
Neptune, and
Pluto,
out of which we are living on the planet Earth. Our ancients could see Mercury, Venus,
Mars, Jupiter and Saturn (in addition to the Sun and Moon which are also called planets
(grahas) in astrology) by the naked eye. Actually, both of these are not planets. While the Sun
is a star, the Moon is a satellite. But the word Grahas is loosely understood as planets. With the
invention of telescope, several other large planets and many small ones could also be seen
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
• The sun and its planets along with their
natural satellites(Moons) constitute solar
system.

• The sun is at the centre of the solar

system, and the planets along with their
Moons revolve around the sun in fixed paths
, commonly called orbits.

• Our solar system consists of an average

star we call the Sun, the planets Mercury,
Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune.

• It includes the satellites of the planets.

• The Sun contains 99.85% of all the matter
in the Solar System.

• Our solar system extends much farther

than the eight planets that orbit the Sun.
 Characteristics of planets
• These planets, besides revolving around the sun, also rotate on their own axis like a top.

• The time taken by a planet to complete one rotation is called period of rotation or axil period of
rotation.

• The solar system also includes the Kuiper Belt that lies past Neptune’s orbit. It also consists of
numerous asteroids, comets, meteorites.

• The opaque and round heavenly bodies going around the sun in near circular orbits are called
planets.

• They revolve around their own axis at different speeds.

• They revolve around the sun at different speeds.

• They have far smaller mass and volume as compared to the sun.

• They are held in perpendicular orbits due to the gravitational pull of the sun.

• They do not have light of their own , but reflect the light of the sun .
Ref – Goyal’s IIT foundation Physics (class viii)
 TOPIC : THE EARTH
Size of the Earth Size of the Earth
• The Earth is not perfect sphere, it is • The motion of the Earth around the
some what flatten at, poles and bulging sun is called revolution.
at equator • It revolves around the sun at distance
• The average diameter of the Earth is of 1,50,000,000 km (approx.) in
12,800 km. nearly circular orbit.
• The circumference of the Earth at the • It takes 365.25 days to complete one
equator is 40,000 km approximately. revolution around the sun.
• The mass of the Earth is estimated to • It rotates around its own imaginary
be around 5.98 X1024 kg. axis, this motion is called rotation.
• It is surrounded by atmosphere of • The Earth completes one rotation
20.9% oxygen, nitrogen 78.03 % and about its own axis in 24 hours.
other gases approximately 1%.
• The sphere extends to a height of 200
km from the surface of the earth.
Sun:

The Sun is the most important of all the heavenly bodied to the inhabitants of the
Earth. Its rays supply light and heat etc. not only to the Earth and those who live on
it us but to the other planets and other family members of the Solar System. The
Sun controls the motions of all its family members.

Its influence on our day-to-day life is supreme and we cannot imagine our existence
without it.

Diameter = 865,000 miles,

Volume = 1,300,000 x Volume of the Earth, and
Mass = 330,000 x Mass of the Earth.
Energy produced by a nuclear reaction, converting hydrogen into helium and losing
its mass at the rate of 4 million tons per second.
Moon Phases
The Moon goes through
phases every month,
where different
amounts of the Moon's
surface appear bright.
This is because as the
Moon orbits the Earth,
one side of the Moon is
always facing the Sun.
As the Moon orbits, we
see the Moon in
different positions, and
in these different
positions we see varying
amounts of the surface
lit by the Sun.
 Constellations
The patterns of
stars seen in the sky
are usually called
constellations,
although more
acurately, a group
of stars that forms
a pattern in the sky
is called an
asterism.
Astronomers use
the term
constellation to
refer to an area of
the sky.

Constellations in the night sky. Credit: NASA