A statistical argument against  Astrology

Most of the astrological predictions are worded deliberately vague. It is this inherent vagueness that turns out to be the biggest strength of astrologers since it defies experimental verification, a basic requirement for any science.

Anyway, let us try our hands at generating statistics to critically examine astrological conclusions. Positions of planets, Sun and the Moon against the backdrop of the Zodiacal constellations at the time of the birth of a person is supposed to determine their destiny, right? Now, let us take the case of astronauts – Only a dozen men have ever set foot on another world. They are the crew members of the six Apollo missions that landed on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. Surely the planetary configurations during their respective birthdates must have had been similar to have given rise to their similar destinies? Given below are the birthdates and the planetary configurations of these dozen who walked on the Moon – (these are actual positions taking the precession of the Earth’s spin axis into account)

Table 1. Positions of the Sun, Moon and Planets among the Zodiacal constellations at the birthdates of the 12 astronauts who walked on the Moon.

Can one see any pattern in the planetary configurations at their birthdates? Surely not? Hold on though, is there something significant in the fact that Saturn was in Sagittarius at the time of birth of most of these astronauts? Not really, as a little analysis will show. The birth dates seem to be clustered around 1930. Why would that be? Well, the Apollo missions were concentrated between the years 1969 and 1972. Quite likely that most of the astronauts recruited around that time would be close in age, so nothing significant in the clustering around 1930 that is seen. Now, Saturn is a planet with an orbital period round the Sun of a little less than 30 years. It is quite natural for Saturn to stay near the same Zodiacal constellation for  a few years in its slow motion through the Zodiac. In many instances where astrologers point out significant correlations (as in the infamous Mars effect where someone found Mars to be in some particular constellation for athletes) could have similar explanation by looking closely at honest data.

One can look at alternate data that is not likely to be plagued with such bias. Listed below are the birthdates of a number of Nobel Laureates who had received the peace prize. Again, astrologically speaking, we should expect to see some correlation in the planetary positions on these dates, which we do not see.

Table 2. Positions of Sun, Moon and Planets among the Zodiacal constellations during the birth dates of some Nobel Laureates for Peace.