What Created the Mythical "Star of Bethlehem"?

What did the three "wise men" actually see? Experts believe it may have well been the alignment of Venus and Jupiter, which would have looked like a massive star, at right around the estimated date of the birth of Christ.

Other speculations include that the famous “Christmas” star recorded by ancient historians, may have actually been a comet, a supernova or some other cosmic event. But the alignment of two close planets that would have appeared as one giant star is the likely suspect in the “Star of Bethlehem” phenomenon.

Sky And Space magazine news editor Dave Reneke is certain that the spectacular alignment of Venus and Jupiter around 2000 years ago is most likely the beacon that guided the magi.

Computer models show the planets would have appeared as a single bright point of light in the sky during 2BC, a likely birth year for Jesus Christ.

"There are theories [the star of Bethlehem] may have been a comet or a supernova," Reneke noted. "But to me there's nothing else that would have been as visually dramatic as the combining of these two planets at this period of time."

The Gospel of Matthew refers to three wise men from the east who followed a star to Jerusalem to worship Christ. Reneke points out that while a supernova would have created a spectacular light show, there was no mention of such an event in reliable Chinese astronomical records from the time.

However, complex computer models that re-created the movements of the night sky thousands of years ago have shown that Jupiter and Venus would have come together spectacularly beginning in August 3BC.

Reneke explains that the planets would have appeared to have been drawing closer and closer to each other until they looked like one enormous and bright star on June 17, 2BC.

A similar alignment of Jupiter and Venus would occur in the early hours of February 2, 2008, but will likely not be nearly as bright as the 2BC event. Such configurations can actually occur several times in a decade, though usually they are not as spectacular as the Star of Bethlehem was reported to be.

Posted by Rebecca Sato

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Sources: Sky and Space Magazine, Speigel, Sun Herald

Comments

[gw]

The movie, "The Nativity" seems to have followed this premise about the planets aligning.

[Daniel Appleton]

Venus & Jupiter in a rare conjunction seems just about right, a comet would be noticeable, but it would have to a very bright one to be able to be tracked & followed. & comets were believed to be harbingers of historic events, too. A supernova would DEFINITELY be noticeable, but supernovae ( sp ? ) just don't flick on & go out over a period of weeks or months, although I believe the Chinese - among other star - gazing cultures - noted some " guest stars " that they mapped on their star charts.

Regardless of whether one believes that the star of Bethlehem was a supernatural miracle or a set of natural phenomena that just happened to fall into place at a propitious time to herald the birth of Christ, it's fun to conjecture.

[Head Counter]

Where in any Holy text does it give an exact quantity to the number of Wise Men following the star that lead them to the baby Jesus?