The “Star†That Led Wise Men To Baby Jesus May Actually Have Been A Rare Planetary Alignment
CARIBBEAN360
star-of-bethlehem
INDIANA, United States, Thursday December 8, 2016 – The Christmas Star is an enduring symbol of the season, celebrated in everything from carols like “We Three Kings†to the crowning glory of the Christmas tree.
Scientists and theologians have nevertheless long been perplexed by the origins of the Star of Bethlehem, believed to have guided the Magi to the new-born king, Jesus. Now, some researchers say it may not have been a star at all.
A recent study of biblical, historical and astronomical records suggests that the phenomenon was actually an extremely rare planetary alignment, during which the sun, the moon, Jupiter and Saturn all lay in the constellation Aries.
Grant Mathews, professor of theoretical astrophysics and cosmology in the Department of Physics at Indiana’s University of Notre Dame has studied the Star of Bethlehem for more than a decade.
“Astronomers, historians, and theologians have pondered the question of the ‘Christmas Star’ for many years,†he said.
“Where and when did it appear? What did it look like? Of the billions of stars out there, which among them shone bright on that day so long ago?
“Modern astrophysics is how we attempt to explain one of history’s greatest astronomical events.â€
According to Professor Mathews, the sun, the moon, Jupiter and Saturn were aligned in Aries, while Venus was in the constellation Pisces, and Mercury and Mars were on the other side, in Taurus.
When this planetary alignment took place, Aries was also the location of the vernal equinox, moreover.
For the Magi – popularly referred to as the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men – this alignment in Aries would have symbolized the birth of a newborn leader in Judea.
Mathews added that Jupiter and the moon together represented the birth of a ruler with a special destiny, while Saturn was the symbol of giving life. So, too, was the presence of Aries in the vernal equinox, which marks the start of spring.
“The Magi would have seen this in the east and recognized that it symbolized a regal birth in Judea, ultimately leading them in search of the new-born ruler,†Mathews said.
The researcher pointed out that an event of this kind is extremely rare, with a similar alignment unlikely for another 16,000 years. Even then, the vernal equinox would not be in Aries.
Professor Mathews noted that even calculating 500,000 years into the future, no alignment like the one now known as the Christmas Star could be found.
