Final answer:
Pseudoscience is any claim or practice presented as scientific but lacking in adherence to scientific method and empirical evidence, such as astrology, which contrasts with astronomy, a true science.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pseudoscience refers to any claim, belief, or practice that is presented as scientific but does not adhere to the standards and methods of science. Such assertions lack the reproducibility and empirical evidence that are hallmarks of true scientific inquiry. A classic example of pseudoscience is astrology, which claims that the positions and movements of celestial bodies have a direct influence on human affairs and natural events. While astrology played a historic role in inspiring people to study the sky, leading to the development of astronomy, it does not stand up to scientific scrutiny.
Science is an approach to understanding the world that relies on observation, measurement, and experimental evidence. In contrast, pseudoscience fails to use the scientific method and cannot provide material evidence for its theories, often relying on anecdotal experiences and untestable claims. Astronomical pseudoscience, for example, includes a variety of unfounded ideas such as moon-landing denial and apocalyptic predictions not supported by evidence.