Search for the Star of Bethlehem
September 3rd 2007 11:40
The search for a definitive answer to the question what was the Star of Bethlehem was it a comet an exploding star or an alignment of solar planets?. There has been much speculation whether it was one of the three events mentioned or perhaps a combination of all three events. In order to reach a reasonable conclusion we need to do some detective work we need to search ancient texts to see of any record or records of unusual star alignments comets or supernova.
Next we need to come up with a date for the birth of Jesus was between 3 B.C. and A.D. 1. Let’s also assume that the Star of Bethlehem could be observed by astrologers elsewhere in the world, and not just by the Magi who are known as “wise men” or “kings” but were actually priests who relied on astrology.
The Chinese where especially diligent in recording astronomical events. With modern computer programs it is relatively simple to calculate astronomical events of the past and future star and planetary positions.
The modern search for the Star of Bethlehem began with Johannes Kepler (imperial astronomer for Rudolph II of Germany), who shortly before Christmas in 1603 observed a conjunction (pairing) of Jupiter with Saturn from his observatory in Prague. That this occurred in the constellation of Pisces not only does a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn foretell important events, but in Pisces this holds a special significance for Israel; and such an event might even foretell the coming of the Messiah. Kepler then calculated that such a conjunction in Pisces had occurred in 7 B.C., followed by Mars joining Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces, in early 6 B.C. and the birth of Christ in 6 B.C. (A conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars is unusual, occurring only once every 805 years.)
Then, in October, 1604, Kepler saw an even more unusual sight: a supernova (great exploding star), that appeared out of nowhere in the sky and remained visible for a full year. Kepler then speculated that perhaps a supernova had also occurred at the time of Christ's birth, somehow produced by the planetary conjunctions. However after searching ancient Chinese astronomical records there was no significant record that a comet or exploding star was seen between the years 6 B.C and 7 B.C so exploding star or comets can be ruled out so what is left planetary alignment.
Historical records and modern-day computer simulations indicate that there was a rare series of planetary groupings, also known as conjunctions, during the years 3 B.C. and 2 B.C. It was interesting to note that a simulation produced a date of on June 17, B.C. when Jupiter seemed to approach so close to Venus that, without binoculars, they would have looked like a single star. The combination of these events could have been enough for at least three astrologers to go to Jerusalem and ask Herod: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews, for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.”
I have prepared a list of Major Conjunctions, August 3 BC through August 2 BC can be downloaded in PDF form
Download Link Here
Next we need to come up with a date for the birth of Jesus was between 3 B.C. and A.D. 1. Let’s also assume that the Star of Bethlehem could be observed by astrologers elsewhere in the world, and not just by the Magi who are known as “wise men” or “kings” but were actually priests who relied on astrology.
The modern search for the Star of Bethlehem began with Johannes Kepler (imperial astronomer for Rudolph II of Germany), who shortly before Christmas in 1603 observed a conjunction (pairing) of Jupiter with Saturn from his observatory in Prague. That this occurred in the constellation of Pisces not only does a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn foretell important events, but in Pisces this holds a special significance for Israel; and such an event might even foretell the coming of the Messiah. Kepler then calculated that such a conjunction in Pisces had occurred in 7 B.C., followed by Mars joining Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces, in early 6 B.C. and the birth of Christ in 6 B.C. (A conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars is unusual, occurring only once every 805 years.)
Historical records and modern-day computer simulations indicate that there was a rare series of planetary groupings, also known as conjunctions, during the years 3 B.C. and 2 B.C. It was interesting to note that a simulation produced a date of on June 17, B.C. when Jupiter seemed to approach so close to Venus that, without binoculars, they would have looked like a single star. The combination of these events could have been enough for at least three astrologers to go to Jerusalem and ask Herod: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews, for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.”
I have prepared a list of Major Conjunctions, August 3 BC through August 2 BC can be downloaded in PDF form
Download Link Here
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