about vs astir

about and astir both are adjectives.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
about	No	Yes	No	Yes
astir	No	Yes	No	No

As adjectives, about and astir are synonyms defined as:

about (adjective)	astir (adjective)
on the move	on the move
	out of bed

about (adverb)	astir (adverb)
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
in the area or vicinity
in or to a reversed position or direction
in rotation or succession
used of movement to or among many different places or in no particular direction
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
all around or on all sides