The Astronomy Quarterly

ASTROLOGY AND TilE SCIENTIFIC METHOD - II.

Astrological Experimentation and Prediction*

Roger B. Culver

and

Phillip A.

[anna

In the first part of this discussion(1), we described the nature of the

~trolOgical planetary influences as developed by the astrologers themselvesand
oUnd that such effects, if they exist, are almost totally incompatible with our
Current understanding of the physical world. It is at this point that the
astrological debate often deteriorates into a shouting match with 'the scientist
saYing "astrology cannot work, therefore it doesn't," and the astrologer
res~onding simply and fervently, "astrology works." What tends to be forgotten
amIdst the din is the fact that the scientific method, with its built-in predictive
empiricism, provides us with a most elegant means of arbitration. Unfortunately
the scientists' attitude toward astrological experimentation has been one of
~etachment and disinterest. For example, in "Objections to Astrology," Dr. Bart
lJok comments:
"At one time I thought seriously of becoming personally involved in
statistical tests of astrological predictions, but I abandoned this plan as
a waste of time unless someone could first show me that there was
some sort of physical foundation for astrology."(2)
On the other hand, virtually all of the astrologers prefer to be "practicing"
astrologers and seemingly have no personal desire to place empirical tests ahead
of the "needs and desires" of their clientele. Ironically, the net result is that
both scientist and astrologer have, by and large, shunned the very instrument
through which the basic points of contention between them can be resolved.
"'E xcerpts from a forthcoming book, Not in Our Stars, by Drs. Culver
and Ianna,

147

The astrological edifice, however, does not yield up its secrets easily, even to
scientific empiricism. To begin with, astrology is, concerned for the most part
with human beings and their interactions with themselves and with one another.
Such interactions almost always intimately involve abstract human traits such as
love, hatred, ambition, courage, etc. Unfortunately, as any social scientist can
attest, the design and evaluation of quantitative measurements and experiments
in these areas is a supremely difficult, if not impossible, task. Moreover, there
seem to ,be few "aces, straights and cinches" in the astrological world. The
astrological claim is basically that the planetary influences "incline, but do not "
compel" and hence, single experiments on individuals will yield inconclusive
results. The claim seems to be fairly reasonable in light of the well-documented
struggles of the social scientists over very similar kinds of questions. If the
astrological principles are correct, however, one should be able to see overall
trends, patterns, and tendencies in large data samples. It is in the search for and
analysis of such patterns that the question of the validity of astrology enters the
murky world of statistical interpretation. Here the methods and techniques offer
the investigator a marvelous spectrum of opportunity, ranging from a chance to
solve empirical problems that are otherwise insoluable to a virtually limitless
capacity for interpretive mischief and disaster. In dealing with the astrological '
will-o'-the wisp, we could hardly expect less!

THE ASTROLOGICAL CONSTANTS

Throughout the physical sciences there exists an array of basic physical
constants such as the speed of light, the 'mass of a proton, the universal
gravitational constant, etc., for which precise values, along with their associated
observational uncertainties, have been experimentally detemiined. From their
ancient association with science, the astrologers have retained a certain set of
"astrological constants," to which fundamental significance is attached. Included
in the list of astrological constants are a number of astronomical constants, such
as the synodic periods of the various planets, which have been freely borrowed
by the' astrologers in order to cast their horoscopes . These constants, however,
are really the product of painstaking measurements by observational
astronomers, and as such, will be excluded from the present discussion. What is
.of interest are those constants which are peculiar to the world of the astrologer,
some of which we have listed in Table 1.
The 30 angular length of an astrological sign is perhaps the most familiar of
the astrological constants. It is a direct consequence of the astrological adoption
of a 12.sign astrological zodiac. Interestingly, Assyrian astrology makes no
mention of the twelve-part zodiac and various other cultures throughout history
have employed, at one time or other , 6, 8, 11, 16 and 20 sign zodiacs(3,4,5).
The rationale behind the adoption of the 12signs and hence the 30 sun sign,
unfortunately lies buried in antiquity. The best explanation perhaps is that the
current system took its inspiration from the twelve lunations which occur during
the course of the sun's annual trek through the zodiacal signs. In any event, we

148

.....

.;>.
\0

of an Astrological Sign

90'

120'
ISO

' Angl e of Square

Angle of 'trine

Angle of Opposition

g.

S"

S' - lZ"

S' -

4" -

S" - ' 9"

>9'
S' - 12'

0"

l'

Ua.certai"tv

16"

60'

Conjunctio~

30

Angle ,of Sextile

Angle of

Angular.~idth

Angular Length af an Astrological Sign

'2!!!.!. .

A PARTIAL LIST OF FIlNtlAl'lEIITAL ASTROLOGICAL CONSTANTS

TABLE 1.

arc not aware of any recorded debate, scientific or otherwise, concerning this
question from astrology's formative years. There is, however, an excellent
modem case history which permits us to view the empirical processes of the
astrologer.
In 1970, astrologer Steven Schmidt wrote a book entitled "Astrology 14,"
which was balleyhooed as "the most exciting discovery in astrology in two
thousand years!" Basically, Schmidt, a sidereal astrologer, claimed that since the
sun passes through the astronomical constellations of Cetus and Ophiuchus,
these star groups should be a part of the system of astrological zodiacal signs. In
formulating the astrological character traits for each of his fourteen zodiacal
signs, Schmidt described his method thusly:
" ... I collected people - people born under all fourteen signs - and
examined their character traits. I used persons with whom I am
personally acquainted and also famous people whose personalities are
well-known" (statesmen, movie stars, scientists, artists, etc.), I looked
for traits held in common by persons born under the same sun sign.
Always, of course, I kept in mind the wide diversity made possible by
differences in heredity and environment."(6)
At no time did Schmidt put forth any quantitative data or in any way present
any empirical justification for' his value of 25 .7 for the angular length of an
astrological sign (a uniform fourteen-part division). Nevertheless, his hope was
that the astrologers would "have the courage and foresight to cast off outmoded
'traditional' data." At this point; the traditional, astrologers could brush aside
Schmidt's contentions with a single, simple reference to some classical
experiment or series of experiments in astrology which yield the Table 1 value of
30 '1 for the angular length of a single astrological sign. The sad fact of the
matter is that no such reference exists, ', and without it, the , astrologers'
traditional 30 value rests on ground no firmer than Schmidt's value of 25.7.
In fact, nowhere in the astrological literature could we fwd a description of
any empirical procedures by which any of the constants listed in Table 1 could
be or have been determined. Even.the "uncertainties" listed for these constants
are not 'rigorously defined in terms of standard deviations or some other
mathematically meaningful concept. Rather , they take on values, especially in
the case of the aspects, which will insure that a horoscope will have an adequate
number of interpretable features. This, of course, stands in glaring contrast to
the methods by which scientists deal with their fundamental constants. JenkinS
and White(7), for example, discuss no less than ten different experimental
techniques for measuring the speed of light!
Conspicuous by its absence fromTable 1 is the value of the angular extent of
a single astrological house. As we have indicated in Part I of this discussion, the
astrological house boundaries can be set along the ecliptic by a wide variety of
methods. Unfortunately, each method results in the house boundaries beinS
located at different sets of points along the ecliptic. The effect on a horoscope is
hardly trivial. It is possible, for example, for a spread of 10 or more to occur in
Included in this list of "well-known" personalities are Presidents Rutherford Hayes,
Chester Arthur, and Millard Fillmore.

150

the placing of a house boundary along the ecliptic: Should the sun; moon, or any
of the planets happen to be located in this zone of uncertainty, there could be
an especially significant effect on a ,person's horoscope. The impact, on ' one's
life, -for example, of an "unfavorable" planet located in that person's second
house , (material 'possessions) astrologically will be vastly different ' from the
impact of that same object displaced by one house.into'HousesI (personality)
Or 3 (family ties). One would think that with such discrepancies the astrological
community would place the solution 'of the problem of house diversion:at the
top of their experimental and observational priorities.' Instead, the astrologer
tells us
"when he [the astrologer] .flnds a change in the .house position of a
, planet, he .can ... decide for himself [italics Mr. Hone's] which gives
,the better result, in light of his own knowledge of the -person,whose '
chart he is doing."(8)
.
In,short, there seems to be no desire whatsoever on the part of ,the astrologer
to make modern .experimental determinations of the values , of. any of the
astrological quantities listed in Table 1.

ASTROLOGICAL LAWS AND 'EXPERIMENTATION

In thediscussion of the astrological constants, we have 'taken a brieflook at
how 't he astrologers ' conduct their empirical affairs: It is in' the realm of
astrological laws ' and the formulation of these laws, however, that 'one truly
enters a remarkable Alice-In-Wonderland kind 'of world.
According -to West and Tooilder(9) the division ' of the zodiac is based on
certain ,principles fundamental to which is the belief .that numbers are the
"sYmbolic keys to qualitative laws that govern the coherent universe." This finds
expression in the division of the signs into positive-negative by the "Law of Two,
the law of duality, or polarity" 'as well as in the "Law of Three the principle of
relationship," required to unbalance 'the equal and opposite forces 'of the dual
Universe so that something can happen. By,way of further explanation they note'
that
.. . .. polarity is incorporated within triplicity. Three is not merely .two
plus one -:- -though it sounds illogical put that way; In esoteric terms,
the descent of unity into multiplicity is sometimes expressed as: one
becomes two and three simultaneously."
We are not deeply impressed by the explanatory content of these principles.
Another of our favorite examples comes to us from the November 1974 issue
of "Horoscope" magazine. In an article entitled "Comets: ' Modifiers of Human
and Historical Trends:' astrologer M.k Smollin writes
'
"What the coming ofa prodigious come t presages, 'thus ' will be of
complicated and lasting consequence. It was so with the famous comet
of 1774 with its spectacular six tails."(lO)
Smollin then lists an impressive number of events in 1774 that he'associates with
~his comet, including the First Continental Congress; the ilrfivat Thomas Paine
in America , the . ushering in of the Age oLthe Machine, ' etc. There is no doubt

of

151

that Smollin is referring to the year 1774. Nor is there any doubt that Smollin is
also referring to de Cheseaux's Comet which, with its set of six 19-million-mUe
tails, had to be one of the flnest cometary spectacles in recorded history. The
one small problem with Smollin's analysis is that de Cheseaux's Comet appeared
in early March of 1744 not 1774. We expect that Mr. Smollin could quickly
come up with an equally impressive list of "historical effects" for 1744 from de
Cheseaux's Comet.
A similar treatment has been accorded the alleged astrological influences of
the planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, all of which, of course, have been
discovered in historical times. Neptune and Pluto with sidereal periods
respectively of 165 and 248 years, for example, have yet to complete an entire
circuit of the zodiac since their discoveries in 1846 and 1930. This has not
deterred astrologers, however, from assigning a full complement of astrological
properties to these two planets(ll).
While a good deal of the astrological "experimentation" is performed in a
manner not unlike the above examples, there have been a number of attempts to
test astrological principles in a truly scientific manner. As noted in the
introduction, these tests must necessarily be statistical in nature. Early attempts
in this regard have suffered from statistical samples that were simply too small
for the results to be significant. A typical example is the work of the
psychoanalyst Carl lung. lung examined the horoscopes of 180 married couples
and found that the aspect traditionally most connected astrologically with
marriage - a conjunction of the man's sun and the woman's moon - was slightly
more favored over other aspects, but not enough to be statistically significant in
light of the sample size employed(12). Interestingly, despite the fact that lung
himself recognized his results to be statistically inconclusive, the data have been
widely quoted in the astrological literature in support of astrological claims(13).
In any meaningful empirical analysis of astrology, then, care must be taken to
avoid these kinds of statistical pitfalls.
If any universal theme or "law" can be said to run through the astrological
literature, the dominance of the sun-sign in an individual's horoscope is it.
Continually, individuals are sorted into sun sign bins and astrological
commentary is then made on that basis. Astrologer M.E. Hone sums up the
effect of the sun sign,
"This (the sun sign) is the most powerful of all the horoscopic factors.
When considering a personal chart, the judgement of the type of person
will depend largely on his solar (italics Mr. Hone's) characteristics."( 14)
Astrologer Linda Goodman further echoes this sentiment.
"The Sun is the most powerful of all the stellar bodies. It colors the
personality so strongly that an amazingly accurate picture can be given
of the individual who was born when it was exercising its power
through the known and predictable influence of a certain astrological
sign."(lS)
The sun sign, for example, is said to have great influence on an individual's
occupation. Hall(16), tells us that the astrological sun-sign occupations for
Aquarius include "such trades and professions ... as humanitarians, explorers,
aviators, actors, astrologers, electricians, singers, psychologists, and radio

152

te~hn~cians." Parker and Parker(17) list as the Aquarian occupations, "career

SCientist, writer, sociologist, charity worker, astrologer, astronomer,
?rchaeologist, industrial worker (particularly in television), radiographer,
mventor, a career in the Air Force or work for the United Nations ." So, while
there is some disagreement on the actual Aquarian occupations , there is
agreement in the astrological1iterature on the existence of a correlation between
SUn sign and occupation. Happily this particular astrological tenet can be tested
statistically in view of the large amount of biographical information that has
become available in the form of "Who's Who in ... " types of biographical
collections. Over the past ten years at Colorado State University, one of us
(RBC) has compiled sun sign statistics on over 70,000 individuals spanning
twelve separate occupations. Results of these counts are presented in Table 2.
Statistics on smaller sample sizes have also been compiled by special studies
students, and their overall results are included in Table 3.
In considering these data, it is tempting to pick out a given occupation in
Table 2, such as college teachers, and claim that the favored sun sign for that
occupation would be Virgo with 547 entries. But are these 547 entries
statistically significant when compared with the number of entries in the
remairIing sun sign bins? In particular, what are the odds that we can, from a
totally random process, reproduce not only the Virgo counts, but those of the
entire distribution as well. One such statistical test, called the X2 test, will in
fact, answer that very question for us. Briefly, the X2test allows us to calculate
the probability or "odds" that we will obtain a given observed distribution of
data instead of a certain "standard" or "expected" distribution of data. In this
analysis we have assumed that the expected distribution is totally random, i.e.,
each SUn sign ought to theoretically have the same number of .entries, even
though there are in fact small seasonal variations in the frequency of births.
Using this assumed expected distribution the X2 probability p that the observed
distribution by sun sign could have been generated by random processes was
Calculated not only for our statistical data but for those of Van Deusen(18) and
Field(19) as well. In interpreting the p values listed in Table 3, note that
Probabilities larger than .05 (one in twenty odds) are not regarded as indicating a
meaningful correlation by anyone's standards . Values of p lying in the range .05
:!:p::?: .00 1 are regarded in some circles as being statistically significant, but recalling
that the road to a better understanding of the universe is strewn with the
~reckage of scientific reputations that were hung on such p values, we shall
mstead follow the lead of those statisticians who are inherently suspicious of any
"Iaw"b ased on a p value larger than .00 1.
Examining the data in Table 3 we can quickly see from the p values listed
that there is no evidence whatsoever for the idea that a correlation exists
between an individual's sun sign and that person's occupation. TIle results for
about 75% of the data samples listed in Table 3 are not even significant at the
20% level and roughly 90% are not significant at the 0.1% level. It should also be
noted that in several instances we were unable to confirm some of the low p
values obtained from the data of other investigators.
A second property traditionally attributed to an individual's sun sign is that it

153

TABLE 2.

POPULATION SAMPLES OF TWELVE OCCUPATIONS BROKEN DOWN BY SUN SIGN

k ..h11
Play.ra e

ChrlYd ,f

TC:.lclh.~.dt 1

b
Enl!Df'

506

873

490

460

1069

686

514

874

535

506

1079

762

538

840

520

484

1064

721

5~2

843

529

527

1081

TAU
(Apr. 21/llay 21)

679

56~

821

560

498

1098

Ct.'!
(llay 22/Ju 22)

715

494

860

480

524

1175

CNC
(Jun. 23/July 23)

699

510

87~

555

536

1126

LEO
(July 24/Au8' 23)

682

524

810

519

316

1108

N4

5~1

805

540

547

1082

LIB
(S.p'. 24/0. 23)

731

568

8~8

486

320

1090

seo
(Oct. 24/Nov. 22)

751

517

869

538

322

1026

seR
(Nov. 23/Dec. 22)

714

573

900

527

511

1093

TOTALS

8524

6412

10,228

6279

6151

13,091

Anrt
Officen

Bank.en

CAP

680

AQR
(J 20/rob. 19)
PSC
(F.b. 20/llar. 21)

Sun Slan

(Dec. 23/J 19)'

ARI

(liar. 22/Apr. 20)

VIR

(Aug. 24/Sept. 23)

154

TABLE 2.

le.llyerad,e,f

511
498
480
481
486
534
517
540
537
532
479
497
6092

I.t.4"lot d

_t..

POPULATION SAMPLES OF nlELVE OCCUPATIONS BROKEN DOlIN BY SUN SIGH

MedicaId

Poets

640

851

340

6S3

620

627

792

342

607

591

672

815

338

641

584

580

799

321

632

596

619

754

360

607

552

611

807

309

657

607

655

775

365

710

610

647

767

347

678

583 .

651

749

328

688

577

606

780

322

686

595

621

758

343

639

574

653

837

308

657

566

7582

9484

4023

7855

7055

pol1tic1anslr.

! -..

'arur ..s '.,"co,

w..c 'olAe AI_I huM.."". he. t I. I. 6lMaNU., ...... Co.,
I. Ha .,.lt.,.. , ;:0..o 'd.n.o. ...S ul......tld tr
bCOrtOtUM, . . . YOlk.

I ,~ - Ine Ccwpluc MCta'.,U- .,

~I
'tulhr 0 f Cr"'uaUI, V. I. KtUury Aud..,-J,,,,",

t..,.,.. ,-",,0 b,

Psych01ol\1SU1

Musicians i

Doctors ,e,

~.k1n 19"", .d. J.

4'~ ..... b.U Eftctc1o,u". ite M,. 1ft,. Ib.. MlcKlU ru6U." ~DT. 1M.,

eo.p.a."

Q'UIO,

tort.

'~ "" \lho la AMrJClI Ibtortcal Vol.... 1601-1196". 19U, A. M. M&~ul.

Chlc:aao
\lbo fa MerlCal 189'1942". tat .-do, UU, A. lI. Ktr4uh Co-p.r.,. eM.uSa,
.~f.
~~
Who In Aatrlu. 1916"', A. N. H.uql.lta eo.Plny, ebtCllo .
\... "'Cuandlal !.dilutor- 6f AM:rlcel 19U", OkUtanJ1n& ,....rlu". Pu)l1.h_u, ",. .hilliloa, D. C.
altho'.
SJh
''''1'h
0 1n lA.,J' r1ft.... 9th .4~ .. It"' d.. I .. )t .. no",.
Hhloodcd 'ubthbt1l, c:o.,.IlJ. tac., ..... YOlk.
1"1 htnn.atfollid Cyc14p.4i .. ,,1 "",ic , Hudcbn... 10th ell., un, .4. o. Tho_P.ClII, Dell4 "..4 ,
for".
",tel'l\ItlOlUll \rho'. \now) 10 PUb" uuns", ell . C. lC.Iy, Melr" Pt ... L'tn, lAMoI'"
I ... 0'. Ir'ho In .... r(c.1t '01 hie .... Itll #4 r"j/l1t, a.. A.. "'_l~l Cfl_1'_n1. )W~ '~r"
loaraphlul Dh.tllDfr of t~. Aayrttaa r.ycholoatul Aoct..cloQ", 1915, AMrluQ ..re...... te.l "aod.U.., V.'M... toa,

'"b "'"

'

"'."h

e-,...,. ...,

155

o.

C.

Table 3.

2
The X probability p tha t the sun s ign distributicn for a
occupation is a random result.

OCCUPATION
Actors
Advertizing Execut iv es
Antique Deal ers
Architects
Army officers
Artists
Astronomers
Aut hors
Bankers
Baseball Players
lIua1ness men
Celebrities
Chemists
Clergy
College Athletes
College Teachers
Community Leaders
Composers
Congressmen
Elementary School Teachers
Engi neers
Film Makers (Produc ers)
Forest Rangers
Government Officials
Jazz Musicians
Journalists
Labor Leaders

SAMPLE SIZE
1552
7118
600
5036
8524
2982
900
2931
6432
2696
10228
8024
5047
1515
8000
6279
4006
6151
4651
4698
5138
4450
5056
13091
2842
600
600
5013
1115
2088
432

156

2
X PROBABILITY
(p)
0.50
0.20
0.07
0.15
0.39
0.05
0.34
0.11
0.25
<.001
0.45
<.001
0.23
0.06
0.05
0.22
0.16
0.38
<.001
<.001
<.001
<.001
0.15
0.29
0.69
0.79
0.41
0.14
0.16
0.33
0.008

giv,~

REFU'::NCE
16
16
This iJper
16
This i Jper
16
This : J per
16
This i .1per
16
This i.1per
16
16
16
17
This hper
16
This iJ per
16
16
16
17
16
This tap er
16
This Taper
This ra per
16
16
16
16

OCCUPAtION
Lawyers
Ubrarians
Medical Doctors
IUcrobiologists
Musicians
Naval Captains
Navy FUers
Nurses
Opera Singers
Philosophers
Poets
Political Scientists
POliticians
hychiatriats
Paychologiats
SCientists
Singers
Space Scientists
Surgeons
'truck Drivers
University Scholars
Veterinarians
WO~en of Achievement
loung Men of Achievement
loung Wo~en of Achievement

SAMPLE SIZE
6092
5477
7310
5111
7582
5000
1800
9484
2616
7550
2100
5210
12.00
600
600
4023
5146
7855
5022
6011
7055
10123

lOSS
672
2000
600
13183
1800
4004
5738

7694

157

X2. PROBABILITY
(p)
0.34
0.001
0.004
0.001
0.29
0.08
0.13
0.19
<.001
0.47
0.64
0.005
0.22
0.14
0.66
0.38
0.05
0.10
0.13
0.11
0.77
0.40
0.04
0.38
0.05
0.07
0.003
0.22
0.57
0.01
0.002

REFERENCE
This Paper
16
17

16
16
16
This Paper
This Paper
16
17
17

This
This
This
This

17
Paper
Paper
Paper
Paper
16

This Paper
16
./,16

Thill Paper
16
16
This Paper
16
This Paper
16
This Paper
16
16
16

Table 4.

Sun Sign Data for Life spans

Heart Attacks, and Cancer .

Heart Attack
Victims

80 years and for Victims of

Cancer

LiCespan s ~
80 years

Sign

Cap

112

140

105

290

Aqr

105

132

110

320

Pac

102

100

111

315

lor!

118

105

113

295

Tau

101

126

102

317

Gem

100

117

120

288

Cne

120

125

117

270

Leo

116

127

133

284

Vir

108

133

100

3.01

Lib

127

121

107

303

see

119

142

141

280

Sgr

105

152

130

277

TarAL

1333

1.520

1389

3540

0.73

0.06

0.14

0.51

158

St roke~,

is an indicator of certain types of health problems, strong and weak points of the
body, and even longevity itself. Hall(20) and Hone(21), for example, list illnesses
of the heart as being a typical health problem for individuals born under the sign
of Leo. For individuals born under Aries, "Health difficulties are those
associated with the head, brain, face, eyes, upper jaw , cerebrum , and carotid
art~ries"(22). In checking several thousand obituaries gleaned from a wide
vanety of newspapers and news magazines over a several year period, a total of
1333 listed strokes as the cause of death, 1520 as heart attack victims, and 1389
as cancer victims. A breakdown of these data by sun sign is presented in Table 4.
~nce more, contrary to the widespread claims in the astrological literature, no
SIgnificant departure from random processes could be found for these three
types of illness. This conclusion is further strengthened by the fact that the
cancer victims who die of a wide variety of types of cancer attacking different
harts of the body show no significant differences in their distribution than the
1eart attack and stroke victims whose health problems centered on more
ocalized areas of the body.
In this same survey, a total of 3540 individuals who lived to be 80 years or
more were sorted according to sun sign. These results are also listed in Table 4
an~ again no correlation with the sun signs of the individual is found to exist.
This result, by the way, is in substantial agreement with Addey's(23) survey of
~70 no?agenarians. Such statistics are in basic agreement with the overall results
Or vanous other diseases and medical disorders which are most elegantly
s~mmarized by Per Dalen in "Season of Birth"(24). A partial listing of the
diseases, medical phenomena, and personality traits that are found to have no
COrrelation with birth date is presented in Table S. These data include our own
results for various disorders in which our sample sizes were at least 300 (25
"'
.
eXpected entries per sun sign).
Astrologers have also proclaimed that in the choice of one's marriage partner
t~ere exist certain "compatible" and "incompatible" combinations of sun
slgns(2S). One of the better examples of this sort appeared in the February 8,
1~77, issue of the "National Enquirer" in an article entitled "Expert Carroll
Righter Tells How Your Astrological Signs Tell if You've Picked the Right
Mate." In that article Mr. Righter even presents us with a 12 x 12 matrix of male
and female sun signs in which the various combinations are rated from 1
("chances for a happy marriage are tops") to 8 ("chances for a happy marriage
are very bad"). Unfortunately for.Mr. Righter, two Dutch scientists, Kop and
lIeuts, constructed a similar matrix in 1974 based on a random sample of 3,392
married couples drawn from the registry office of Amsterdam. They could find
llo overall date of birth significance to either marriages or divorces(26).
The nature of much of the above data also allows us to investigate not only
the sun signs but other possible correlations with other celestial objects,
Particularly those involving the planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter.
-Wl:ere sample sizes permitted, attempts were made to uncover correlations of
thIS type. Taking into account the amount of time that a given planet would
s~end in a given astrological sign over the time period considered. no statistically
SIgnificant correlations to the sun and to each other could be determined for any

159

Table S.

Some Diseases. Medical Phenomena, and Personality Traits

found to be Independe~ of the Date of Birth of the Individual
at the p - .05 level.

Adulthood height (male)*

Intelligence Quotient

AlcohoUsm*

Introversion

Appendicit1a*

Leukuemia

Arthritis

Longevity 22,*

Asthma*

Lung Cancer

Cerebral Palsy

Malaria*

Chicken Pox*

Multiple Births

COlIIIIlon Cold*

Multiple Sclerosis

Congenital Nervous Disorders

Mumps*

Diabetes

Muscular Dystrophy*

DOwn's Syndrome

Natural Abortions

Emotional Maladjustments

PoUo

Extraversion

Premature Births

Eye Defects

Rheumatism*

Yeeble-Mindedness

Rubella

Heart Attacks.

Sociability

Hodgkin's Disease

'Stillbirths

Infant Mortality

Strokes

Inferiority Feelings

TonsillUs

Influenza

Uterine Bleeding

*This paper.

160

..

these four objects. Excluded from die analysis were the planets Saturn,
ranus, Neptune, and Pluto, owing to their large sidereal periods, and the Moon,
~hose astrological position at the time of birth requires a knowledge of not only
e date and year of birth but the exact time of day as well.
B These results are corroborated by similar surveys done by Barth and
ennett(27) on the supposed influence of the planet Mars in military careers,
and by Michel and Francoise Gauquelin(2B) who analyzed 25,000 individuals
and their occupations according to the location by astrological sign of the sun,
~oon, and planets at the time of birth. The Gauquelins' work is of pivotal
l1lterest in the astronomy.astrology controversy because their data represent the
Only large sample size to date for which the exact time of day, as well as the date
and year of birth, has been recorded. These data have allowed the Gauquelins' to
ll1Ves~igate in detail some of the astrological claims which rest on knowledge of
the time of day of an individual's birth. For example, the presence of Jupiter at
an individual's midheaven at birth is a supposed indicator of a brilliant and
sUCcessful future of money and fame. Out of ten thousand successful individuals
~xamined in one aspect of Gauquelin 's survey, the percentage of individuals who
ad Jupiter at midheaven at birth was not different from what would be
expected for a random distribution.
In fact, in all of the Gauquelin analyses, the only statistically meaningful
Correlations which could be developed were of a diurnal nature. The Gauquelins
claim that their data lead to statistically significant correlations between certain
OCCUpations and a certain planet's local hour angle at the time of birth. These
reSUlts are summarized in Table 6 and have sparked not only a complete
the?retical explanation by GauqueJin himself, but also an acrid debate on the
tOPIC, the major points of which can be found detailed in a series of articles by
the Gauquelins and L.E. Jerome in Leonardo, Volumes 7-9. Basically, the
GauqueIins' analysis has been criticised on a number of counts, the bulk of
Which center on the counting scheme and the computation of the number of
degrees of freedom in the data. The claim is made that if these factors are
properly introduced, the Gauquelins' odds against a random distribution drop
Considerablyfrom the value of roughly 10-6 quoted in their early work.
In particular, one analysis of the Gauquelins' so-called "Mars effect"* by
Abell, et a/.(29) has failed to confirm the effect. The authors, however, are quick
to point out that while their findings can place an upper limit on the total
str~ngth of the effect, they cannot in any way be interpreted by disproving its
eXiStence.
. The Gauquelins' data are, however, generally regarded as being sufficiently
Itnpressive to warrant additional testing . Unfortunately, the debate over the
Gauquelins has, to date, centered on the interpretation of one set of data (the
Gauquelins) collected by one investigative team (also the Cauquelins). It took
the better part of forty years for the quantum theory to become widely
aCcepted in the scientific world and even then it was accepted only after a wide
"J\n aspect of the Gauquelins' data in which a statisticaUy significant number of sports
hba~Pions are found to be born when the planet Mars is situated between the eastern
OIlZon and the celestial meridian.

161

Table 6.

Summary of Gauquelin'a Significant Correlationa. 2'1

Rise and/or
Meridian of

High Birth

Moon

Average Birth
Frequency

Low Birth
Fuquency

Ministers
Politiciana
Writers

Scientists
Doctors
Paintera
Musicians
Journalists

Athletes
Soldiers

Mara

Scientists
Doctors
Athletes
Soldiers
Executives

Cabinet
Ministers
Actors
Journslists

Writers
Painters
Musicians

Jupiter

Team Athletes
Soldiers
Ministers
Actors
Journalists
Playwrights

Painters
Musicians
Writers

Solo Athletes
Scientists
Doctors

Saturn

Scientists
Doctors

Soldiera
Ministers

Acton
Painters
Journalists
Writers

Frequency

162

range of independently generated experimental results offered physicists no

other choice. Scientists are thus duty bound to insist on a similarly careful
empirical verification of such data before resorting to a wholesale abandonment
?f our current descriptions of nature. But while the debate over the Gauquelins
in Scientific circles is, for the most part, an honest and interesting one, by far the
most fascinating aspect of the Gauquelins' statistical work is the response of the
?Strologers themselves. A typical reaction to the Gauquelins' work, for example
IS the commentary of West and Toonder :
"But perhaps the same tenacity that permits Gauquelin to press
On ... also prevents him from admitting or even from seeing, that he is
proving astrology, plain old-fashioned astrology."(30)
Even a cursory look at the Gauquelins' published work clearly indicates that to
place such an interpretation on it constitutes a gross misrepresentation of their
~eSults. The Gauquelins have demonstrated as thoroughly as any investigator to
at~ that the location of the sun, moon, and planets relative to the signs of the
ZOdIac has no impact whatever on the lives of individuals. In fact, Gauquelin
makes his position quite plain:
"It is now quite certain that the signs in the sky which presided over
OUr births have no power whatever (italics ours) to decide our fates, to
affect our heriditary characteristics, or to play any part, however
humble, in, the totality of effects, random or otherwise, which form the
fabric of our lives and mold our impulses to actions."(3l)
f In effect, the Gauquelins' data has completely stripped the zodical outer ring
,rom the astrologer's horoscope. We seriously doubt that this constitutes
'proving plain old-fashioned astrology."
This curious "double vision" permeates the astrological literature. On one
hand, we find Sydney Omarr "disposing" of both Farnworth's early statistical
Work showing no correlations between musicians and their sun sign and similar
results derived by Bok for scientists, by stating that "Ideally a test of astrology
should take into consideration all the many factors involved in a single
horoscope."(32). This is the same Sydney Omarr whose books are riddled with
sunsign astrology and who annually publishes "Sydney Omarr's Astrological
GUide for You in (year)" where advice and predictions are doled out by the
pageload, not on the basis of. the astrologically prominent planets or the "many
factors in a single horoscope," but solely on the basis of the individual's sunsign.
In fact, so devastating is the current evidence against sun-sign astrology that in
~976 nine astrologers' associations.denounced sun sign astrology advice columns
in newspapers as "utter nonsense and fraudulent endeavors."(33). Undaunted,
Mark Feldman in the May 1977 issue of "Horoscope" magazine responded:
"There are a number of reasons why this action on the part of some
astrologers and organizations was a mistake. To list a few: the
astrological community simply cannot afford to break up its ranks
because of an issue as basic to this field as sun-signs . .. the fact that
over a thousand daily newspapers in the United States carry horoscope
columns represents the only medium by which the public can be made
constantly aware that there are astrologers still working at and devoted
to this field . . . as Julia Wagner recently commented , 'How do you
suppose millions of people get interested in astrology?' ... most of the

163

astrologers who write the newspaper horoscope columns - Sydney

Omarr, Charles Payne, Carroll Righter - are distinguished with many
years experience in this field. Sun-sign astrology is not only necessary
but also important! ..."(34)
There is, in short, a total unwillingness on the part of a rather large segment of
the astrological community to modify not only sun-sign astrology but any of the
traditional astrological principles as well, in spite of the ever-growing store of
empirical evidence mounting against them.
Untouched throughout all of this, however, is the "serious" astrologer'S
traditional claim that one must consider an individual's entire horoscope in order
for the astrological interpretations of that horoscope to have any validity.
Unfortunately, the number of variables in a horoscope, including 10 celestial
objects, 5 major aspect zones between any pair of these objects, 12 astrological
signs, and 12 astrological houses, is prohibitively large for any sort of meaningful
statistical evaluation. But, if the empirical aspects of the scientific method are
unable to settle the issue of the validity of an entire horoscope and its
interpretation, how then can this important claim be scientifically investigated?
To answer this question we must turn to the predictive aspects of the scientific
method.

ASTROLOGICAL PREDICTION
An important test for any scientific description of a phenomenon in nature
lies in its ability to predict future events or new experimental results. The
scientific method, in fact, demands that such a description is constantly probed,
prodded, and poked with a predictive stick if any scientific progress is to ensue.
The ultimate success of a given theory is then judged directly in accordance with
its ability to render successful predictions. So, the scientific method provides the
astrologers with yet another opportunity to demonstrate the validity of their
claims. In particular, how do the astrologers themselves fare when given a free
hand to cast entire horoscopes, interpret them, and make predictions from
them?
Historically, the astrologers are in deep trouble right from the start. The
planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto have all been discovered within the last two
centuries. If the horoscope is indeed the delicately interactive entity that
astrologers would have us believe, then how, for literally thousands of years,
could the influences of three tenths of the objects involved in the interpretation
of a horoscope have escaped the notice of the same astrologer-astronomers who
did notice precession and the saros cycle? Nowhere in the astrological or
astronomical literature prior to the discovery of Uranus in 1781 is there any
indication of any awareness of the existence of any of these three planets. In
fact, quite to the contrary, the astrologers have historically been quite happy
with seven "planets"* as a natural manifestation of the medieval "Law of
*The sun and moon arc regarded astrologically as planets owing to their motions along the
zod iac.

164

Seven" in which mystical significance is attached to the number seven.

~oreoever, astrologers prior to 1781 were already putting out what has long

SInce become a familiar old astrological refrain, i.e., "astrology works ."
T This basic predictive failure has presented astrologers with what West and
Oonder(35) admittedly refer to as a " grand and intriguing problem." It has
p,rOmpted a wide variety of explanations and excuses. One suggestion is that the
new" planets' astrological impact is felt not by individuals, but by entire
generations (accounting for certain "gaps") owing to their large sidereal periods.
Other astrologers have claimed that the new planets affect only a relatively few
Outstanding individuals, while still others have gone so far as to suggest that the
astrological influences of these planets did not commence until the first instant
of their discovery!
. Interestingly, after being embarassed three times in two centuries by the
(h~covery of a new planet, contemporary astrologers are now postulating the
eXistence of two new planets so that there will be a single ruling planet for each
astrological house in line with a centuries-old Hindu view. At the moment
Mercury and Venus must do double duty. Astrologers' suggestions for the "new"
planets would border on the comical were it not for the fact that these
speculations are avidly absorbed by millions of readers. In one suggestion(36),
the hoary old ghost of the intramercurial planet Vulcan is resurrected.
Astrologer Jeanne Dixon Speculates on a second possibility(37).
"1 see sister planet - previously hidden by the sun - being discovered
by the end of this century. Scientists will land instruments on the
planet Jupiter to gain a bird's-eye view of this as yet unknown planet."
(Flying saucer buffs will instantly recognize this as the mysterious "far side of
the sun" planet Clarion).
More reasonable is Ebertine's claim for the existence of t'the planet
"T ransPluto" for which an ephemeris can be obtained from the American
Federation of Astrologers. Currently, Trans-Pluto (astrological symbol = is
alleged to be at 16 of Leo (>. '" 156'). The predicted existence of Trans-Pluto is
based on "unaccounted for" influences in horoscopes. The discovery of
Trans.Pluto at or near Ebertine's predicted position would constitute a landmark
triumph for astrology, just as the calculations by Leverrier and Adams over a
century ago provides science not only with a new planet, Neptune, but also gave
Newtonian mechanics its finest hour. Ebertine's ephemeris indicates that the
alleged planet should lie outside the band of the Milky Way and well within the
lowell Observatory's 1929.1945 search zones(38). Unfortunately for Ebertine,
no such object was turned up by the Lowell Survey, and we may therefore
Conclude that if the planet exists it can be no brighter than the survey's 17th
magnitude limit, or more than two magnitudes fainter than Pluto. Despite these
difficulties, Ebertine still casts horoscopes which include Trans-Pluto and
typifies the astrologer's oblivious, "keep on truckin" approach to their
predictive misfires.
'. Nor do the astrologers fare any better by taking into account the supposed
Influences of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto in a given horoscope. For several years,
We have kept records of specific astrological predictions made in the printed
media. A total of 513 specific predictions were recorded, and of these 71, or

a)

165

14%, came true. No astrologer was able to predict correctly more than 20% of
the time. In this survey, the astrologers were given as much of the benefit of the
doubt as possible. Predictions which could have been attributed to shrewd
guesses, vague wording (there will be a tragedy in the eastern U'S. during the
spring months), or "inside" information, regarding the person(s) involved
("Starlet A will be married to Director B before Ground Hog Day"), were all
counted in the astrologers' "successful" columns. Some examples of the
astrological failures:
Not one astrologer predicted Jimmy Carter's meteoric rise to the
presidency prior to his primary election victories in the spring of 1976.
In the June 1976 "Ladies Home Journal," for example, Sybil Leek
predicted that Edward Kennedy and Ronald Reagan would be the 1976
presidential candidates.
Eva Petulengro in the July 8, 1975, issue of the "National Enquirer"
predicted that by year's end "North Korea - backed by Red China - will
take over South Korea without any interference from the U.S.".

In the same issue of the "National Enquirer," Jean Rignac predicted that
by the end of 1976, "Britain's Queen Elizabeth will give up the throne in
favor of her son, Prince Charles."
Katina Theodossiou predicted in the March 30, 1959, issue of
"Newsweek" that "the next period of prosperity in the U.S. will be in the
mid-1970's ."

In a virtually unanimous verdict, the astrologers of the Far East predicted

the end of the world on February 3, 1962, when a total eclipse of the sun
occurred simultaneously and in the same part of the sky as a five planet
conjunction.
So, despite the traditional astrological claim that astrology has endured because
"it works," the evidence in the matter is that astrology, even when practiced bY
"serious" astrologers with a full access to all of the information in a horoscope,
doesn't work.
This is not to say that scientists have not had their share of predictive
troubles. Perhaps the classic example in this regard was the attempt at the end
of the last century to explain the so-called black-body curve, the distribution bY
wavelength of the radiation emitted by a near perfect radiating source or blac\(
body. Experimental results indicated that the energy distribution is the familiar
hump-shaped curve which went to zero at very large or very small wavelengths
(see Figure 1). Predictions based on classical physics, however, led to the
conclusion that for small wavelengths the energy emitted per unit wavelength
should increase to an infinitely large value. It is difficult to imagine a
discrepancy greater than that between zero and infmity! The scientists did not
lose their sense of humor over all of this; the effect became known as the
"ultraviolet catastrophe."
The scientific response to the "ultraviolet catastrophe" was, of course, to
develop a set of laws and a theory (quantum theory) which would bring the

166

0\
-J

>-'

E:).

I \

Figure 1.

S~hematie

Oiagram of the Ultraviolet Catastrophe.

The wide

physi~s.

in

WAVELENGTH

------

- - - - - THEORETlCAL
RESULTS
(RAYLEIGH -JE:ANS LAW)

~sher

(dashed line) and the

dots) helped

EXPERIMENTAL
RESULTS

quantum theory in

~dern

ta~

(~onnected

actual observed behavior

predicted by the Rayleigh-Jeans

disagreement between the radiative behavior of a black body

theoretical predictions in line with experimental results. It is, in fact, because of

the scientists' response to these kinds of discrepancies between prediction and
observation, that our perception of the world around us has changed so
drastically in three centuries since the Scientific Revolution.
But how do astrologers respond when their predictions go awry? A few years
ago, virtually all of the leading astrologers in the U.S. predicted that the then
Jacqueline Kennedy would not marry in 1968. Upon her marriage to Aristotle
Onassis on October 20, 1968, here are the responses of some of the astrologers
to their blown predictions:
Jeanne Dixon ordered her syndicated astrological column scheduled for
October 20, 1968, withdrawn from publication and replaced it with a
corrected second version. In that first column she had written "I still stand
on my New Year's predictions and see no marriage for Jackie Kennedy in
the near future."(39)
Sydney Omarr claimed incredibly that he was least partially right in his
prediction because, "I predicted a divorce (italics ours) would make
international headlines about that time, and that both marriage and
divorce are in the seventh house."(38)
Zoltan Mason's response, however, was the most interesting of all; "As far
as I'm concerned, there is no marriage. A 69.year old man! That is not a
marriage!"(39)
This is hardly the stuff of which searches for truth are made. In fact , the most
clever and intelligent of the astrologers seem to have adopted instead a variety of
plays for reducing or eliminating the impact of missed predictions.
Oldest and most traditional among such methods is to clothe the predictions
in the most confusing, subjective and nebulous terms possible, thus allowing for
a wide variety of interpretations. In fact, astrologer Ronald Davison lays it out
for us in his advice to budding astrologers(40):
"Never attempt to delineate or predict in too much detail."
Astrologers often preface their predictions with warnings that the predictions
may not come true for a variety of reasons. For example, in "Sydney Omarr's
Astrological Guide for 1976," the preface to the section on "Commodity
Futures Trading: 1976" has more disclaimers in it than a life insurance policy.
And little wonder. In comparing the predictions contained in that section with
the 1976 and 1977 Commodity Yearbooks(41), we found that Mr. Omarr could
have done just as well by basing his "up" and down" commodities predictions
on the toss of a coin.
Other astrologers, equally savaged by unsuccessful predictions, have taken the
tack that prediction now has "no place" in modern astrology. Instead the
astrologer should use astrological principles to gain insight into the strengths and
weaknesses of an individual's health and personality as a sort of sidereal
psychiatrist, psychologist, or doctor. The underlying assumption here, of course,
is that the store of astrological knowledge is fme as is and needs no further
refmements or changes.
The prediction can also be made so far into the future that it will be
forgotten when the time comes for it to be fulfilled. Thus, NostrodamUS

168

predicted the end of the world in 1999, and more recently, world-wide
catastrophes are currently scheduled for 1982(42) and 2011(43).
h The final line of retreat for astrological prediction is the traditional refain
t at "the stars incline, they do not compel," In other words, after all of the
abbracadabra, hocus-pocus, and murnbo-jumbo involved in "reading" a
horoscope and interpreting its meaning, the astrologer is still left with a final
out, namely that the heavenly influences can be overridden by one's own free

Will.

In each of the above instances, it is obvious that the astrological methods of

dealing with prediction are in direct conflict with those of the scientific method .
A ~ood scientific theory will be capable of making very precise, experimentally
venfiable predictions. Moreover, if a physical law is developed from
experimental results, that law holds up at all times, not just when we deem it
Convenient. If a mountain climber slips off a cliff, for example, it will take a
11l0st persuasive argument indeed to convince the ill-fated climber that the law of
gravity inclines but does not compel!
In short; the bulk of the astrologers do not seem to want to handle the
predictive aspects-of their craft scientifically. There is no attempt to alter any of
the basic tenets of reading and interpreting a horoscope when a prediction goes
awry. Instead, the failures are explained away with excuses that do not threaten
the "truth" of astrology. This sort of approach strongly suggests that the bulk of
~he astrologers may be more concerned with preserving a multi-million dollar
I11dustry than arriving at scientific facts.

THE FUNDAMENTA L ASTROLOGICAL PRINCIPLE

Throughout this discussion we have found time and again that traditional
astrology is sadly lacking in its ability or even desire to probe what we will refer
to ~s the Fundamental Astrological Principle - the idea that human beings and
thelr actions are influenced at least in part by celestial objects. But if traditional
astrology has failed in this endeavor, to what extent, if any, has the scientific
method succeeded?
._
Over the past three centuries scientists have discovered a number of celestial
age~ts, such as gravitational forces, electromagnetic radiation, and high energy
partIcles, which can affect tills planet and its creatures in a variety of ways. Tidal
forces stretclling and pulling the earth's crust may trigger some earthquakes(44)
and influence the time of volcanic eruptions(45). The correlation of weather
patterns with the lunar cycle is suggested in a study showing that days of
- l1laXimum precipitation occur near the middle of the first and third weeks of the
lunar month, especially on the third to fifth day after new or full moon(46);
peak thunderstorm activity has been claimed for two days after the full
11l00n(47). The raising and lowering of water tides has resulted in the

169

development of complicated behavior patterns in tidal marine life that have yet
to be fully understood by marine biologists. Other effects found in lunar
synchrony range from varying activity in the West Indian scarab beetle(48) and
the breeding habits of the California grunion to varying rates of intestinal
calcium transport in the frog(49).
In dealing with human behavior the situation is considerably more complex.
It is little wonder, then, that the few studies done on the topic have yielded
inconclusive and often contradictory results. Lieber and Sherin(SO) found that
the rate at which homicides occurred over a 15 year period in Dade County
(Miami, Florida) were significantly higher within 24 hours before or after full
moon and for 24 hours following new moon . Similar data on Cuyahoga County
(Cleveland, Ohio) homicides showed somewhat different peaks in the homicide
rate that were not statistically significant. A study conducted by a team of
behavior specialists at Edgecliff College in Cincinnati(S 1) of 34,318 criminal
offences from a one year period showed eight kinds of crimes to occur more
frequently during full moon; only homicide did not occur more frequently at
full phase. At the University of Virginia an examination of the daily frequency
of emergency rescue squad calls over a one year period showed no significant
periodicities.
Does the full moon effect human behavior in such a way as to produce
lunacy? A Kansas study suggests not. In comparing the number of emergency
psychiatric contacts on the day of the full moon with a 10 day interval before
full moon and the mean number during the week of the full moon, these
investigators found fewer emergency contacts on the full moon day(S2) .
Psychiatric admissions at the University of Virginia Hospital tend to be more
frequent on Mondays and not significantly greater at the time of full moon(S3).
In short, if celestial influences on human behavior, other than watching the
full moon rise over the ocean, do exist they may be very subtle and difficult to
separate from other factors which also have an impact on how we conduct
ourselves. If established such phenomena may well be understood as the result of
gravitational or electromagnetic effects on biological organisms that we are just
beginning to be able to measure. In passing judgment on these apparent
correlations it should always be kept in mind that "a statistical relationship,
however strong and however suggestive, can never establish a causal
connection"(S4). A great deal of careful study is still required. But most
importantly these possible "celestial influences" bear no resemblance to the
predictions and descriptions of traditional astrology and in no way support it.
All the evidence that we have examined suggests one thing: astrology does not
work.

170

1. Culver, R. B. and lanna, P. A., Astron, Quart. 1, 85 (1977).

2. BOk, B. and Jerome, L., p, 31, "Objections to Astrology," Prometheus Books,
BUffalo, New York (1975).
3. AUen, R., p. 1, "Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning," Dover Publications, Inc.,
New York (1963).
4. Jobes, G. and Jobes, J., p, 44, "Outer Space: Myths, Name Meanings, Calendars,"
Scarecrow Press, Inc., New York (1964).
5. West, J. and Toonder, J., p. 285, "The Case for Astrology," Penguin Books, Inc.,
Baltimore, Maryland (1973).
6. Schmidt, S., p. 18, "Astrology 14," Pyramid Books, New York (1970).
7. Jenkins, F. and White, H., Chapter 19, "Fundamentals of Optics ," McGrawHill Book
Company, Inc. (1957).
8. Hone, M., p. 141, "The Modem Text-Book of Astrology," L. N. Fowler and
Company, Ltd., London (1969).
1 9 Ibid. , Ref. 5, p, 19.
O. Srnollin, M. A., "Horoscope Magazine," November, 1974, p. 22.
ll. See, for example, S. Moore, "The Outer Planets' Direct Effect on Your Life,"
Astrology, July 1977, p. 47.
12. MacNeice, L., "Astrology" Doubleday and Company, Inc., Garden City, New York
(1964).
'
13. See, for. example, S. Oman in Chapter 12 of "My World of Astrology," Wilshire Book
14 C~mpany, North Hollywood, California (1975).
1 . IbId., Ref. 8, p. 25.
5. Goodman, L., p. xviii, "Linda Goodman's Sun Signs," Bantam Books, Inc., New
York (1968).
16. HaU, M., p, 33, "Astrological Keywords," Littlefield, Adams and Co., Totowa, New
Jersey (1958).
17. Parker, D. and Parker, J., p. 127, "The Complete Astrologer," McGraw-Hill Book
Company, New York (1971).
18. Van Deusen, E., "Astrogenetics," Doubleday and Company, Inc., Garden City, New
York (1976).
19. Field, Paul, "SO Thousand Birthdays," Maeoy Publishing Co., Inc., Riehinond,
Virginia (1964).
20. Ibid, Ref. 15, p. 28.
21. Ibid, Ref. 8, p, 61.
22. Higgins, T., p. 33, "The Living Zodiac" Black Watch Publishers, New York (1976).
'
23. Ibid, Ref. 5, pg. 175.
24. Per Dalen, "Season of Birth ," American Elsevier Publishing Company, Inc., New
.
York (l975).
25. See, for example. "Love, Sex, and Astrology," by T. King, Barnes and Noble Books,
New York (1973).
26. Kop, P. and Heuts, B., J. Interdiscipl, Cycle Res., 5, 19 (1974).
27. Barth, J. and Bennett, J., Leonardo 7, 235 (1974).
28. Gauquelin, M., "The Cosmic Clocks," Henry Regery Company, Chicago (1967).
29. Abell, G., Abell, A., Geuquelin, M., and Gauquelin, F., The Humanist, Sept/Oct
1976. p, 40.
30. Ibid, Ref. 5, p, 172.
31. Gauquelin, M., p. 145, "The Scientific Basis of Astrology," Stein and Day Publishers,
New York (1969).
32. Ibid, Ref. 12, p. 112.
33. The Humanist, Sept/Oct 1976, p, 66.
34. F~ldman, M., "Horoscope Magazine," May 1977, pp. 41-42 .
35. Ibid, Ref. 5, pg. 141.
36. Ibid, Ref. 14, p. 203.
37. "Family Weekly," June 23, 1974, p. 1

171

38. Kuiper, G. and Middlehurst, B., Chapter 2, "Planets and Satellites," The University
of Chicago Press, Chicago (1961).
39. "New York Times Maga7.ine," Dec. 15, 1968, p. 3140. Davison, R., p. 169, "Astrology," ARea Publishing Company, Inc., New York
(1975).
41. "Commodities Yearbook," Commodity Research Bureau, Inc., New York (1976 and
1977 eds.).
42. Gribbin, J. and Plagernann, S., "The Jupiter Effect," Vintage Books, New YOlk
(1974).

43. Waters, F., "Mexico Mystique," Swallow Press, Inc., Chicago (p, 75).
44. Heaton, T. H., Geophys. J. Roy, Astron. Soc. 43, 307 (1975).
45. Mauk, F. J. and Johnston, MJ.S., J. Geophys, Res. 78, 3356 (1973) .
46. Bradley, D. A., Woodbury, M. A. and Brier, G. W., Science 137, 748 (1962).
47. Lethbridge , M. D., J. Geophys. Res. 75, 5149 (1970) .
48. Gruner, L., Ann. Zool. Ecol. Anim.7, 399 (1975) .
49. Robertson, D. R., Compo Biochem. Physiol. Camp. Physiol, 54, 225 (1976).
50. Leibel, A. and Sherin, C., Amer. J. Psychiat, 129, 69 (1972).
51. Tasso, J. and Miller, E., J., Psych. 93, 81 (1976) .
52. Walters, E., Markley, R. P. and Tiffany, D. W., J. Abnorrn, Psychol, 84, 715 (1975).
53. Rockwell, D., unpublished study.
54. Kendall, M. G. and Stuart, A., p. 11, "The Advanced Theory of Statistics," vol. II,
Haffner Publishing Co., New York (1972).

Dr. Roger B. Culver is an associate professor of astronomy at the

Colorado State Universit y in Fort Collins. His research presently
involves measurement of the physical properties of late-type stars
having peculiar compositions.
Among his outside interests is
mountain ldking.

Dr. Phillip A. latuia is a member of tbe - faculty at the Leander

McCormick Observatory of the University of Virginia. In addition
to his teaching responsibilities, he has published papers on a wide
variety of topics in astronomy, ranging from astrometric binaries
to photometric studies of barium stars. Dr. Lanna is also an active
scuba diver.

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