Jonathan Cainer and the Pluto prediction.

[Admin]

I see that out No1 astrologer Jonathan Cainer has made a great big clanger. :o

Amazing considering that astrology is serious science.

Anyway, I've done a little rant here: http://www.ukskeptics.com/commentary...d=08-06#cainer

[wollery]

He's also wrong about Pluto being demoted due to lack of size. If it were just about size then Pluto would be a planet, as would Ceres, (and possibly Pallas, Vesta, Juno) UB313, and probably a few more KBOs.

And this decision isn't going to be reversed any time soon, since the vast majority of astronomers know that it really doesn't affect the science.

I'm also interested to discover that astrologers defer to astronomers. Funny, they haven't sought alternative employment yet! 8)

And surely if Pluto had an effect last week it must have the same effect this week. Or is he suggesting that the effect the planets have is decided by us here on Earth and isn't actually an intrinsic property of the celestial bodies. If that's true then I'll present a motion at the next IAU general assembly to reclassify all planets as "Astronomical Billiard Balls" then the astrologers will suddenly have no planets to work with and will have to give up.

[vbloke]

I'm also interested to discover that astrologers defer to astronomers. Funny, they haven't sought alternative employment yet! 8)

If they do, maybe you should write to him and tell him to quit. :D

[Admin]

And surely if Pluto had an effect last week it must have the same effect this week.

Exactly - it's the same object no matter how we classify it!

It reminds me of an argument I had with someone who believed that the moon affected us (particularly when full). I asked him where he thought the moon went when it wasn't full. It stumped him once he realised it was still there!!

[Mojo]

And surely if Pluto had an effect last week it must have the same effect this week. Or is he suggesting that the effect the planets have is decided by us here on Earth and isn't actually an intrinsic property of the celestial bodies.

It seems that at least some astrologers do believe this. For example here we have an astrologer apparently blaming the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on the name astronomers chose for Sedna.

[vbloke]

damn those Inuits and their goddess of the sea >:(

[Mojo]

Actually I've just noticed that since I first saw that page they've added hurricane Katrina to it.

[JonDonnis]

Well spotted John.
I have added a link to the article from my site

[Admin]

Thanks Jon.

I've noticed some hits coming in.

[wollery]

And another thing......

If astrologers defer to astronomers then why are their Sunsigns (to give them their correct name) out by a month, and why are there only twelve?

[Admin]

Exactly.

As an Ophiuchus, I'm deeply offended. >:(