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Nature 403, 145-148 (13 January 2000) | doi:10.1038/35003077

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Astronomy: Eyes wide shut

David Jewitt

Astronomers like to forget that the roots of their subject lie in ancient superstitions about the influence of the cosmos on everyday affairs. In fact, astronomy and astrology were closely intertwined as recently as four centuries ago, when Tycho Brahe laid the foundations of modern astronomy while simultaneously maintaining a lucrative business in personal horoscopes.