A Scientific Inquiry into the Phenomenon of the Christmas Star
Knowledge of the old astrological beliefs and modern computer-based planetary tables may yet offer new insights into the scientific phenomenon of the Christmas Star. Astronomically, was the Star of Bethlehem really a star? There is wide disagreement on this. But before going back in time to explore the potential answers, one needs to understand the many problems behind the questions.
Matthew is the only of the Biblical books which cites either the Star of Bethlehem or the magi. The Gospel of Mark, interpreted by contemporary text scholars to be the earliest of the Gospels, does not include a nativity narrative or any touch that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The author of the Gospel of John also appears to be unsuspecting of the Bethlehem nativity narratives. The Gospels often described Jesus as “of Nazareth,” but never as “of Bethlehem”. Many scholars have concluded that Jesus was in all likelihood born in Nazareth and that the nativity narratives are influenced by the desire of the Gospel writers to depict his birth as a fulfillment a prophecy in the Book of Micah concerning a Bethlehem birth.
Matthew’s description of the miracles and portents attending the birth of Jesus can be compared to stories alluding the birth of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Relating a birth to the first appearance of a star was pursuant with the general belief each person’s life was tied to a particular star. Magi and astronomical events were contiguous in the communal mind by the visit to Rome of a delegation of magi at the time of a impressive appearance of Halley’s Comet in AD 66.
There are legion other components that impart to the puzzle, including the uncertainty in the sure date of Christ’s birth and the terminology used to describe celestial events during the Stars appearance some 20 centuries ago. For example, any heavenly object bright enough to attract attention was likely to be called a “star.” Meteors, for instance, were called “shooting” or “falling ” stars; comets were “hairy” stars; novae were “new” stars and planets were thought to be “wandering” stars.
