Lots of people have suggested over the years that the "star" which was the guide for the shepherds and the 3 Kings was really Halley's comet. But this nearby star that could become a SuperNova any day should be bright enough to read by at night. A similar exploding star could have been God's signal that his son was born in Bethlehem, don't you think?
2007-05-07 11:06:29 · 9 answers · asked by plezurgui 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Astronomers have proposed various explanations for the star, including a nova, a planet, a comet, an occultation, and a conjunction (massing of planets). The subject is a favourite at planetarium shows during the Christmas season.
I have read the view that it was thought to be a triple conjunction to the planet Jupiter (Zeus) (King of the Gods) with the star Regulus.
Regulus (α Leo / α Leonis / Alpha Leonis) is the brightest star (magnitude 1.35) in the constellation Leo and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky.
Regulus is approximately 77.5 light years from Earth's Solar System. Its name is Latin for "prince" or "little king". (Rex was a king, Regina a queen.)
One can imagine the astrological significance superstitious minds might attach to The King of the Gods meeting up with the King Star, the brightest star from Leo, (the Lion) the King of the Beasts as regards divination of a forthcoming "Unto Us a King is Born" event.
(Remember there had been prophecies eg by the prophet Micah, of a King, a Messiah, who would deliver the Jews from the yoke of slavery since the time of King David. Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David and would have been a propitious place for such a birth.)
As you may know, Jupiter and the other planets can move forwards and then take a retrograde direction for some weeks before moving forwards again. Stars look as though they stay still in the heavens, in comparison.
The triple conjunction would have consisted of Jupiter and Regulus being close together, Jupiter moving apart and then returning to Regulus twice more.
In 3-2 BC, there was a series of seven conjunctions, including three between Jupiter and Regulus and a strikingly close conjunction between Jupiter and Venus on June 17, 2 BC. "The fusion of two planets would have been a rare and awe-inspiring event," It may have been this event that caused the Magi to set off on their travels?
However as Regulus was one of the four "royal stars" of the Persians around 3000 BC and the Magi were from Persia it would have has a special significance to them, It was their star they were following!
2007-05-07 12:41:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Three "Wise Men" were probably astronomers, and they were probably from Persia (the region now called Iraq). To practice astronomy, you had to be rich or hired by the king (or both, which would make you a very good friend of the king).
You have to think of a reason why they would have traveled somewhere so far from home.
A supernova would be visible for several weeks or even months. It would be visible all over the sky, rising and setting like any other star, so that, over time, it would have been seen to the east and to the west (at different times of the year and at different times of night).
In other words, if it had been visible from Bethlehem, then it would have been visible from Persia. Same thing goes for comet Halley or any other comet.
Today, astronomers travel for eclipses, transits (planet passing in front of the Sun) and special events involving planets (e.g., a bunch hired a plane to photograph a passage of Uranus in front of a star and they unexpectedly discovered rings -- the star got eclipsed by the rings of the planet).
You have to find an event that could have been visible only from that region and that could have been predicted. Persian astronomers were good (they could make predictions), but trips, in those days, took time and money (like months).
Also, whenever these guys went on long expeditions, they'd carry gifts from their king for other kings (and leaders) they'd meet along the way. They were ambassadors in addition to astronomers.
One candidate is an 'appulse': two planets getting so close together that they would appear like a single star, very bright, for an hour or so.
There could have been one that involved Venus (always close to the Sun) that had to be watched from a place where the Sun would have already set and the star would be above the horizon. If the event lasts for less than an hour, that means that you have to be in a region of no more than a few hundred km wide, at just the right time.
Jerusalem has hills overlooking sunset on the Mediteranean sea (nothing else in the way), and was a large town with hotels and places to eat (plus it had a king to meet and play ambassador to).
That would have been a nice way to draw astronomers away from their homes.
Not a supernova (nor a comet).
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PS: in those days, astronomy and astrology were the same thing. There were aspect of regularity (e.g., calendar work) and aspects of divination (trying to understand what it all meant).
Most religions were (and still are) against the divination part because they want to keep their 'monopoly' on stating what god wants.
2007-05-07 11:27:17 · answer #2 · answered by Raymond 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most scholars dont think they came right after his birth. It would have taken them a while to travel there after they saw the star. Matt 2 1-2 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 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. Doesnt say 3 but most people just say 3 because it does specify 3 gifts brought. Matt 2 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. One of those facts in the story that really dont make a difference either way.
2016-05-17 22:04:14 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's nearly impossible for astronomers to nail down exactly what the Star of Bethlehem actually was. One of the main problems is that no one (..except religious fundamentalist wackos..) knows when Christ Himself was really born. Without that date we can't turn back the clock so to speak and determine what bright objects were visible in the mid-East.
2007-05-07 11:27:05 · answer #4 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Objects in the night sky move. Trying to navigate from a bright star with the naked eye is next to impossible. Not to mention those fellows were traveling at best on camels or horses. I would like to see an episode on mythbusters, but I know it would be banned in some places.
2007-05-07 11:16:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If it was a supernova, it would have been seen by other civilizations and recorded. There is nothing in the historical record. And "curiosity" I think you are confusing astrology with astronomy. There is no divination in astronomy.
2007-05-07 11:26:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you read the Bible account, the star led astronomers sent by Herod to kill Jesus. It's origin was not God, but rather the Devil. Also, it stopped over Bethlehem to show where he was-and he was already about 3 years old when they arrived. The Bible account also does not give a number. Astronomy and other forms of divination are disgusting to God. Deuteronomy shows he detests it.
2007-05-07 11:14:58 · answer #7 · answered by curiositycat 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋
A. there is no god
B. if u believe there is one, y r u worried about what kind of star it was? maybe it was unique?
C. if it was a supernova, it would have lasted FAR longer than one night.
2007-05-07 11:27:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Impossible. The super nova is bigger than our solar system it may be Marts, but not the super nova.
2007-05-07 11:17:54 · answer #9 · answered by Filiberto J 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋