What was the Star of Bethlehem

After several repeated requests I have decided to rerun the column from Christmas 2006. May your Christmas truly be merry and bright.

What was the Star of Bethlehem? That question has been around for centuries and just about everyone has tried to get a handle on this enigmatic question.

There are only two biblical reference to the star. In Matthew 2:2, the Magi who had come from the east said, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." Then again in verse nine, "...the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was."

If we assume, as many historians have, the most likely time frame for the birth of Jesus was between 3 B.C. and 1 A.D., let us also assume that the Star of Bethlehem was an event which would be observed by sky watchers, and the general population, elsewhere in the world, and not just by the Magi.

That would rule out the first two suggested possibilities for the star. First a comet, and second a supernova (a massive explosion of a star). Either sight would have been noticed by everyone. But King Herod and his advisors seemed not to know of any unusual astronomical events. And the Chinese, who were avid recorders of things astronomical, did not record any such events in that time frame.

Our third possibility is a planetary conjunction, an event noticed only by astronomers and not necessarily the population as a whole. Being from Babylon, where astrology was widely practiced, the Magi would have placed great emphasis on groupings of planets. Historical records (and modern computer software) show a series of planetary conjunctions, during the years from 3 to 2 B.C. Involving a complicated celestial dance between Venus, Jupiter, and the star Regulus.

First there was a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, on August, 12, 3 B.C. in the constellation Leo, which ancient star watchers associated with the tribe of Judah.

Then between September, 3 B.C. and June, 2 B.C., Jupiter passed by the star Regulus in Leo, reversed itself and passed it again, then turned around and passed it a third time. This apparent reversing is called retrograde motion. It happens because the Earth is on an inner, and thus faster, orbit. Kind of like passing a car on the highway. When you pass, the other car seems to go backward.

On June 17, of 2 B.C. Jupiter and Venus were paired again, this time so closely that, without binoculars, they would have looked like a single star. These ancient astronomers, these Magi, seemed to know the prophecy of the birth of one who would be king of the Jews. And here, depicted in the heavens, were events that could have set them off on their journey. Here Jupiter, a kingly planet, and Venus, a planet of fertility, and Regulus the king star of Leo, a kingly constellation which had been tied to the tribe of Judah were all together.

Our last possibility is, well, the star of Bethlehem was a miracle sent from God to announce the birth of His Son, Jesus. Outside the natural order of things.

Whatever you believe about the Star of Bethlehem, comet, nova, planets, or miracle, I am going to do as the Magi, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." Let us all likewise rejoice exceedingly. For as one writer said, "The creator became our savior, and we are privileged to know Him."

May your Christmas be one of true joy.

SKY WATCH:

Don't miss this one, the Moon will be very close to Mars on the evening of Dec. 23. Look at about 6:30 pm. The Winter Solstice, when the Sun reaches its southernost point in the sky and starts its trek back north is on December 21, at least for those of us in the Mountain Time Zone. The official time is 1:09 am Eastern Standard Time, on Dec. 22.

But that is 11:09 pm on the 21st for us good folks on the western side of the time zone line. That means we get one less day of winter this year (well, not really).