Astronomy and Alchemy

Definition

Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects, space, and physical universe as whole while alchemy is an ancient branch of natural philosophy which attempted to convert base metals into gold among other things.

Analogy

If we think about it in terms of cooking shows, astronomy is like a show that explains the ingredients (stars, planets, galaxies) and how they interact in the recipe (the universe). Alchemy, on the other hand, is like an old cooking show where chefs tried to turn ordinary ingredients into gold - it's been largely discredited now, but it was part of the journey towards modern chemistry.

Related terms

Astrology: The study of movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and natural phenomena.

Chemistry: The branch of science concerned with the substances of which matter is composed, their reactions, transformations and energy changes.

Galaxy: A system of millions or billions of stars held together by gravity.