- Kathleen Scavone
- Posted On
Exploring the mystery of the Star of Bethlehem
The Star of Bethlehem is also known as the Christmas Star, and is a favorite story from the biblical nativity story.
The nativity story from the Gospel of Matthew discusses the Magi, or wise men of the East as having followed a star in their journey to Jerusalem.
It is in Jerusalem where they meet up with King Herod of Judea to inquire as to the king of the Jew’s birthplace, and the location of the birth.
Events ensue to lead them south, to Bethlehem. Led by a star, they then present Jesus with gifts and solemn worship.
There have been numerous stories, songs and art to honor the event of the Star of Bethlehem.
A famed fresco by Giotto di Bondone portrays a vivid comet in his work called, “Adoration of the Magi.” “The Star of Bethlehem” is also the name of a watercolor painting by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, and there are many, many more famous depictions of the scene.
Over time astronomers have tried to explain the Star of Bethlehem, or Christmas Star, and there has been much in the way of debate on the subject with biblical scholars and astronomy experts all chiming in on the theme.
Some suggest the star in the story was actually a comet, but some others discuss planetary conjunctions as a more likely observance of the times.
The German astronomer Johannes Kepler noted that in 1614 Jupiter and Saturn were in conjunction in 7 BC and that a conjunction of planets could be looked at and mistaken as a nova, or super-bright star, and that could be what was observed in the night sky so very, very long ago.
Other astronomers hold that the Star of Bethlehem was actually a hypernova from our nearest galaxy, Andromeda.
A hypernova is when a star explodes and its brightness, or luminosity is even more powerful than a supernova – surpassing 10 times the brightness of a supernova!
No matter who is telling the story of the Star of Bethlehem, it is clear that biblical scholars and academia from other fields of research, such as astronomy or history, agree that the story is indeed complex and multifaceted.
All of the opinions aside, it appears clear that when the birth of Jesus occurred there were extraordinary celestial events which all can agree send special signs that are, indeed sacred to millions.
To hear Emmylou Harris’ beautiful song about the star, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqI4lKG2P1Q.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also formerly wrote for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.