Astronomers today, using sophisticated instruments, such as state-of-the-art planetariums, can reconstruct the appearance of the sky on any given night in history – including that miraculous night two millennia ago.
The most plausible theory suggests that the star that appeared over Bethlehem may have been Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system and the second brightest after Venus. Because the planets orbit the sun, their positions in the night sky change systematically from night to night – generally moving eastward.
But periodically, the planets can appear to reverse their course, moving westward for two or three months before turning back and heading eastward again. This happens because the planets farther from the Sun than we are take longer to complete one orbit. Thus, Jupiter moves eastward until a time comes when the faster-orbiting Earth overtakes it; then it suddenly seems to be moving west.
According to planetarium programs, ancient astronomers would have paid attention when on September 14, 3 B.C., Jupiter appeared to pass very close to the star Regulus, “the King’s star.” This moving close together of two stars is technically referred to as a conjunction. This conjunction would have occurred in the eastern sky.
In ensuing months, Jupiter headed eastward, stopped and reversed direction. On February 17, 2 B.C., the planet passed even closer to Regulus. Continuing its dance, Jupiter passed Regulus a third time on May 8. Thus, over nearly eight months, the Magi saw Jupiter appear to draw a circle, or crown, above the King’s star, beginning in the east. The Magi in our story apparently interpreted this as a prediction of a royal birth in Judea.
But Jupiter’s dance continued. Five weeks later, Jupiter formed a dramatic alignment with Venus, a celestial event almost unheard of in the history of astronomy. This sequence took place on the evening of June 17, 2 B.C. As the sky darkened over Babylonia, Jupiter and Venus drew closer and closer until, at 8:51 that night, the two planets appeared virtually to kiss each other, fusing into a single brilliant star in the western sky, seemingly pointing the direction to Bethlehem. [taken from “Star of Wonder” by David H. Levy, Parade Magazine, December 23, 2001, pp.8-9]
This final culmination of Jupiter’s travels would have been the incentive the Magi needed to commence on a probable two-year journey to Judea in search of a newly-born King of the Jews. It’s clear from the scriptures that when they arrived, Joseph and Mary were now living in a house; it’s also clear that when they arrived Jesus is no longer described as a baby, but as a child!
Now, I can’t resist speculating a bit further. There are some of us who are truly fascinated by these kind of observations. I couldn’t help but notice the peculiarity of these dates. If you’ll look again, you’ll see that Jupiter’s first conjunction took place on September 14, 3 B.C. Then, you’ll notice that Jupiter’s journey culminated in an awesome, one-time-only display on June 17, 2 B.C. Do you notice anything about these dates? I was struck by the fact that they are almost exactly to-the-day nine months apart!
I don’t know about you, but I am fascinated by these scientific reinforcements of the scriptures and therefore, our faith! It’s amazing to me that an in-depth study of the heavens – that were created by the pre-incarnate Christ – can possibly reveal to us not only the possible date of Christ’s Immaculate Conception, but perhaps even the date and moment of Christ’s incarnation!
The heavens are telling the glory of
God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God. Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their
message reaches out to all the world.
If you’ve read this far, you might be interested in the following:
The two largest planets in our solar system – Jupiter and Saturn –
will align to create what appears to be a “double planet” or ultra-bright star
on December 21, 2020.
The
last time the two planets aligned so closely to each other and to earth was
almost 800 years ago!
German
astronomer Johannes Kepler wrote in 1614 that
he believed the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ in the Nativity story could have been a
conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.
Astronomers have calculated that
the two planets crossed each other’s paths in 7 BC and that three planets
(Jupiter, Saturn and Mars) aligned in Pieces (the sign of the fish, and secret
symbol of ancient Christians) for an even brighter conjunction in 6 BC.
Some
believe this could’ve been the “bright star” the three magi, or wise men, were
following to find their way to Bethlehem when Jesus was supposedly born.
Isn’t it interesting that God would give us a light as we end the darkest year!!!!!
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