http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week1116/feature.html
2007-12-23 11:55:57 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A combination of celestial bodies lined up in same line of site, It has been proven to have happened at that time with Saturn being the main body.
Even the North star has now been discovered to be a 3 star cluster by the Hubble telescope.
2007-12-23 12:03:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Star of Bethlehem is shown as a comet above the child. Giotto witnessed an appearance of Halley's Comet in 1301.See also Star of Bethlehem (plant).
The Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star or Jesus Star, is a star in Christian nativity tradition that revealed the birth of Jesus to the magi (or 'three kings') and later led them to Bethlehem. According to the New Testament account, found only in the Gospel of Matthew,[1] the magi were men "from the east" who were inspired by the appearance of the star to travel to Jerusalem in search of a "king of the Jews".[2] There they met King Herod of Judea, who advised them that the child they sought was in Bethlehem, a nearby village. The magi then went to Bethlehem, found Jesus and his mother, paid him homage, worshipped him, gave gifts, and returned to their "own country".[3]
Christians regarded the star as a miraculous sign given by God to mark the birth of the Christ (or Messiah). Ancient theologians claimed that the star fulfilled several prophecies, including the Star Prophecy. In modern times, 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 favorite at planetarium shows during the Christmas season,[4] although the Biblical account suggests that the visit of the magi took place at least several months after Jesus was born.[5] The visit was traditionally celebrated on Epiphany.[6] Many modern scholars regard the star as a pious fiction created by the author of the Gospel of Matthew. [7]
2007-12-23 12:03:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It could have been a star or a planet but who cares, what is important is what was happening beneath it.
2007-12-23 12:03:22 · answer #3 · answered by SpareHead1 aka someone else 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Scientists have been debating this for hundreds of years, with no satisfactory answer having appeared. There is a good chance that the story is simply fiction.
2007-12-23 11:59:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
No one knows, but everyone has an opinion:
planetary alignment, comet, supernova, etc.
I think it was an angel.
2007-12-23 12:00:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most likely a comet.
2007-12-23 12:02:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They now think it was pluto and the moon coming very close together.
2007-12-23 12:41:32 · answer #7 · answered by Linda B 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A star!?!?
2007-12-23 13:40:59 · answer #8 · answered by paula r 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A fairy tale.
2007-12-23 12:02:38 · answer #9 · answered by Lionheart ® 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A UFO.
2007-12-23 11:58:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋