Researching the Star of Bethlehem
Star of Bethlehem: Giotto - Scrovegni
A nova or planets in conjunction?
How might a scientists explain the "Star of Bethlehem" story? A search of the internet yielded some interesting information. Both Chinese and Babylonians note a 5 BC object that lasted about ten weeks and a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces around 7 BC.
In 3-2 BC, there was a series of seven conjunctions (stars appearing close together), including three between Jupiter and Regulus and on June 17, 2 BC Jupiter and Venus came together so close that to most people they would seem to be a single very bright star. Wikipedia
2 B.C. deserves attention.
On August 27, 2 BC, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn would have all been together in the same part of the sky just before sunrise. For the magi or wisemen, who used the planets' movements amongst the constellations to foretell of the coming of a new king or Messiah, there were enough striking events transpiring in 2 B.C. that they would have felt that the year was being singled out for their special attention.
If you wish to learn more, here are three sources I found usefull:
This presentation is also helpful.
If you read through these references, I would be interested in hearing what you think in the comments.
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Why not simply go with the most obvious answer? - this story is mythology and the star is merely symbolic, and not related to any actual historical phenomenon.
what the bible says is true and i dont think that anyone should be trying to study it or prove that it ever did exsists so ya y dont u go with the obvious answer! it did happen it pointed to the christ child and just let it b! o and it was most likely a planet shinning over bethlehem!
We seem to have a disagreement over what is obvious.
God placed an unmistakable sign in the sky for these atuned men to follow..., whatever it was.
The said start might have been any comet,may be Halley's comet!
The debate about the Christmas Star Mystery Continues. Click the link to read how some planetariums have been changing their traditional "Star of the Magi" shows. (National Geographic)
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