Star of Bethlehem

Contents

Star of Gospel of St Mahew The Magi and the 'Star' in the East

Bethlehem Astronomical Candidates How many possibilies are there? How well do they fit the account of the 'Star'?

Astronomical Dates What happened when? Do known events fit the meline?

Starry Night Rewind the clock back to a few years BC

Summary

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Magi and the 'Star' We Three Kings

The principal elements of Mahew's account We three kings of orient are We threethree kings kings of orient are of orient are of orient are … … … following yonder star … following yonder star… following yonder star * Magi journeyed to Jerusalem … prompted by a 'star in the east'

( It does not say that they followed the star ) We indeterminate number of men of unspecified geographic origin are * Asked Herod about the 'King of the Jews' … saw a star * Herod was unaware of the star * Magi journeyed to Bethlehem … where the star re-appeared in the south N wise men where 1 < N < … and stopped over Bethlehem ∞

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Dr Steve Barre – 1 – SCAS 3 Dec 2020 Star of Bethlehem

What is a 'Star'? Any Clues?

Bear in mind that a 'star' doesn't necessarily mean a star in the sense that we understand it.

"wandering star" = Planet

"hairy star" = Comet

"shoong star" = Meteor

A 'star' means something seen in the night sky.

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Astrological Significance 'Star' Candidates

Every planet, every bright star and every zodiacal Star Herod Star Star constellaon had an astrological significance. 'Star' in Significant wasn't re-appeared stopped East aware in sky in sky

For instance … Meteor ? ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗ Venus beauty – ferlity – birth Jupiter royalty – king of planets Comet ☄ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗

Regulus king of stars Nova ★ ✓ ✓ ? ? ✗

Leo lion of Judea Supernova ★ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗

Conjuncon ☍ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Think of the sky as God's Facebook page.

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Dr Steve Barre – 2 – SCAS 3 Dec 2020 Star of Bethlehem

Planetary Conjuncons Retrograde Planetary Moon

S S

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Time Line Starry Night 3BC – 2BC

BC BC AD

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J C J C

Comet ☄ ☄ ☄

Nova ★ ★ ★

Conjuncon ☍♃♄ ☍♃♀

Use 'Starry Night' soware to look at these conjuncons ♃ Jupiter ♄ Saturn ♀ Venus

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Dr Steve Barre – 3 – SCAS 3 Dec 2020 Star of Bethlehem

Starry Night 3BC – 2BC What the Magi Saw

3 BC 2 BC August Sep – May June December ☍

♃♀ in Leo ♃ – Regulus ♃♀ in Leo ♃ stops Jupiter

Birth Placing "Go Now" Magi Venus King the crown arrive Jews

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Summary

Maybe it was these conjuncons that inspired the Star of account in the Gospel of St Mahew.

Maybe it was a different astronomical event, or a Bethlehem combinaon of such events, that occurred within a few months.

Determining the astronomical facts is not difficult. Second–guessing the significance that the magi or www.liverpool.ac.uk/~sdb/ Talks other astrologers aributed to these events is a different maer.

Regardless, the underlying message is the same …

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