Why Astronomy?

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 91897

> {Robert}
>
> Why do the Hogwarts students study astronomy? It can't be just for
> Divination because Hermione is not taking Divination but is taking
> astronomy.
>
> They don't take biology for the Healers or chemistry to help with
Potions --
> so why astronomy?
>
>
> {Anne}
>
(snip examples of effects of planet positions and phases of moons on
other spells)
So my guess would be that young wizards and witches need to
> know what's going on in the heavens for spell work and 
potions/herbalism
> gathering as well as divination.
>
> It probably also ties into Arithmancy ('Magical' math) for the 
wizarding
> version of Physics...something I can see Hermione very much getting
> into...^^
 

Honey:
What the Hogwarts students are studying in Astronomy doesn't seem to
be related to muggle astronomy at all. Astronomers study things like
the geology of planets and the physics of star formation and how
astronomical observations support or disprove theories about the
formation of the universe. Astrologers make star charts, not
astronomers. Thus, the Hogwarts "Astronomy" class is very likely to be
related to requirements for specific potions or charms, or for
Divination or Arithmancy (i.e. Divination using numbers), rather than
for any muggle-y sort of use.

Neri now:
Actually, Wizard astronomy seems to be very up-to-date with the 
latest scientific knowledge. They got the details about Jupiter's 
moons (including Io's geology) exactly right, as we learn from the 
essay for Prof. Sinistra in OotP. Check out this page from the 
website of NASA:
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/02jul_harrypotter.html

Of course, wizard astronomy might actually be much more advanced than 
muggle astronomy. The possibilities are mind-boggling: enlargement 
spells on the telescope lens, apparation to Mars, portkeys to other 
galaxies, etc. One would wonder if the speed of magic is higher than 
the speed of light, and if super-advanced magical civilizations from 
other solar systems are watching us...

Neri