For some reason people seem to get wrapped up in whether or not astrology is "real" or not. They forget that the bottom line is that astrology is just a systematic interpretation of Astronomy.

We use astrology to interpret/predict/understand our lives. Yet many people don’t realize that an astrology chart is simply a map of where everything in the solar system (and beyond) was at a moment in time.

Think about the astrology chart wheel like you were in the center looking around the horizon. Over there, by that tree, is Saturn...and over there near that building, is Mars! Did you know that Zodiac Signs are the constellations of stars going around the sky in a tilted ring around the horizon?

Here is a collection of fun links to help you learn more about the universe:

My absolutely favorite astro website is the Astronomy Picture of the Day. It's my homepage on my browser, so I see a new astounding picture of the stars every single day!

For an understandable explanation of planetary orbits, history, mythology and more, visit http://www.nineplanets.org/. Note to any parents out there: this is a good one to bookmark for school reports.

Beyond the science, the beauty of our universe continues to inspire me. Here’s mother nature painting the night sky in astounding colors: the Aurora Borealis. This Spaceweather.com gallery is a collection of photos of the Northern Lights from around the world. We’re near the solar maximum, a 22-year cycle of sun, magnetism, and solar winds. Here on Earth it brings us weird weather and colors in the sky you’d think came from your own imagination.

Did you ever wonder whether that bright star over there was a star, a planet, and alien ship coming to get you, or a comet hurling at you? This website can help you figure out what you're seeing above. Take a look at J-Pass . Choose the nearest city off the drop down list, and be sure to click "Labels" down at the very bottom. J-Pass will mark planets and satellites in the diagram, so you know what's what!

Another astro phenomenon has also puzzled me--how come, sometimes, the sun isn't setting due west? Or it's 12 noon, but the sun isn't directly overhead? The answer is an effect called an "analemma"--the sun actually makes a figure-8 pattern as it orbits the Earth. Analemma.com is an easy-to-understand explanation of analemmas and other solar system phenomenon.

The latest news releases from the Space Telescope Science Institute.

Light pollution is why you can usually only see a few stars when you look up at night. Learn what it is and what you can do about this subtle environmental hazard.

Check out the Cosmos in a Computer. The whole thing is right inside your monitor!

JPL Radar Imaging takes photos of Earth from Space.

A Disco Ball in Space. Grade-school students helped NASA build this satellite to reflect light for students to monitor.

Your Sky. What stars are overhead? This page will label the stars, constellations, and planets for you, wherever you are! Go ahead, take your computer outside! :-)

Cruithne is Earth's "second moon". While not a real moon because it moves with us instead of around us, it's fascinating to discover there's more out there than we knew.

optcorp.com. See the stars for yourself with Astronomy Telescopes from Meade, Celestron, TeleVue, Takahashi, telescope accessories and eyepieces, CCD imaging cameras from SBIG and more.