What was the ‘Christmas Star’? Astronomy might hold the answer |
In the run up to Christmas, carols fill the air. Many have an astronomical twist, singing of the “Christmas Star” from the story of the nativity. Described in the Gospel of Matthew, the star guided the three wise men to the cradle of the young baby Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem.
Most Biblical scholars agree Jesus was born between 6 and 4 BCE. It’s not known what time of year he was born, but those scholars suggest it was most likely in April or May.
The choice of December 25 to celebrate Jesus’ birth came centuries later, and is tied to the date of the winter solstice in the Roman calendar, when the northern hemisphere experiences its shortest day.
Many Biblical scholars also view the Christmas Star, which is also known as the Star of Bethlehem, as pious fiction – a symbolic story meant to establish the messianic status of Jesus, rather than a real event. But what if it was some sort of astronomical phenomenon?
Astronomers have long pondered this question and proffered some potential explanations. Perhaps historical records from across the globe might reveal what the Magi saw, and help to work out exactly when the events in the story happened.
If so, what could the Christmas Star have been?
The idea that the Christmas Star might have been a bright comet has a long history. The Adoration of the Magi, painted in 1305 by Giotto di Bondonne, featured a comet in pride of place as the........