The Star of the Nativity
The Star of Bethlehem remains one of the most debated aspects of the Nativity narrative. Over five hundred books and studies have explored its possible nature, combining biblical exegesis with astronomical research.
Astronomical Theories
Some scholars have proposed that the star was a nova—a sudden brightening of a star. Chinese astronomical records describe a nova observed around 5 AD near Alpha Aquila, visible for seventy days. Others suggest a comet, possibly recorded in ancient chronicles.
Halley’s Comet, which appeared in 12 BC, has also been considered, though the date is earlier than most estimates for Jesus’ birth. Jack Finnegan argued that a comet or nova observed in 5 or 4 BC may have prompted the Magi’s journey, with another celestial event marking their arrival in Judea.
Johannes Kepler, the 17th-century astronomer, calculated that a rare triple conjunction of Venus and Saturn occurred in 7 BC in the constellation Pisces. David Hughes later argued that this conjunction could have been interpreted astrologically as the birth of a great king in Judea.
