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Nearly 2000 years ago. the , three wise men saw a light in the heavens, signaling to ’ them an event of the utmost importance. In the words of the Book of Matthew: "There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, 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."
The brief mention of the Star of Bethlehem has intrigued scientists, historians > and theologians for hundreds of years because, other than descriptions in the New Testament, there are no other known accounts documenting this apparently short-term celestial phenomenon.
Much speculation exists over whether there really was such a star, says Von Del Chamberlain, an astronomer at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum. In an annual public lecture, Chamberlain traces the various theories advanced to explain the Star of Bethlehem.
"Most of us assume that the Christmas star was an extraordinary sight to behold." he says. “It may not have been so spectacular. Actually, it may have been an event which only professional star gazers —such as the Magi—would even have noticed. And. perhaps what the wise men saw was not really a single star at all."
One theory holds that the Christmas star was a comet. Early records kept by the Chinese mention a comet without a trail visible in the spring of 4 B.C.. a date which fits the most recent estimates of the year in which Jesus was born. (Scholars now believe that Jesus was born between 8 and 4 B.C. Since our present calendar system was not instituted until the 6th century A.D.. more than 500 veal's after his birth, errors in calculation are possible.)
Blit comets move slowly from night to night through the starry sky. Moreover, comets were believed by the ancients to be omens of impending doom, not harbingers of glad tidings.
Another theory has it that the star might have been an unusually bright meteor, called a fireball. As fireballs Hash through the atmosphere. they burn with an intense but Heeling light. But ancient records and modern knowledge indicate that fireballs are fairly commonplace occurrences lasting only a few seconds.
Maybe A New Star
A third and more tenable explanation is that the Star of Bethlehem was a "nova." which means literally "newstar." Actually, novas are not new but old stars that have reached the end of their
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