Was the Star of Bethlehem actually a rare planetary alignment?
Posted by staff / December 3, 2016
The star of Bethlehem, famed for leading the Wise Men to the manger where Jesus was born, has long peaked the interest of astronomers wondering about the scientific explanation for this Biblical event.
Grant Mathews, professor of theoretical astrophysics and cosmology in the University of Notre Dame’s College of Science has been following the evidence for an answer for more than a decade, and his belief is, it wasn’t a star at all, and it could be hundreds of thousands of years before it happens again.
As Newswise explained:
Studying historical, astronomical and biblical records, Mathews believes the event that led the Magi — Zoroastrian priests of ancient Babylon and Mesopotamia — was an extremely rare planetary alignment occurring in 6 B.C., and the likes of which may never be seen again.
During this alignment, the sun, Jupiter, the moon and Saturn were all in Aries, while Venus was next door in Pisces, and Mercury and Mars were on the other side in Taurus. At the time, Aries was also the location of the vernal equinox.
The presence of Jupiter and the moon signified the birth of a ruler with a special destiny. Saturn was a symbol of the giving of life, as was the presence of Aries in the vernal equinox – also marking the start of spring. That the alignment occurred in Aries, Mathews said, signified a newborn ruler in Judea.
Mathews ran his calculations into the future and found a similar — but not exact — event doesn’t happen for another 16,000 years; the exact event, not for 500,000.
Full story at Newswise.
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