Ponderings on the Star of Bethlehem
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009The final possibility is one or more of the 5 bright naked eye planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn. Another Star of Bethlehem candidate is Uranus, which orbited in the close vicinity to Saturn in 9 BC and Venus in 6 BC. This is unlikely because Uranus moves very slowly and is only diffusedly visible. In truth, the possibility that the Magi could have befuddled one or more of the common planets with a star actually seems remote.
Sometimes, two or more of these flaring wanderers come together in a dazzling conjunction. Possiblly a planetary grouping of uncommon beauty; an exceptionally close conjunction of two planets or groupings of three or more creating an eye-catching abstract figure in the sky may have taken place between the years 7 and 2 BC. A amassing like that would be quite rare to the unexpecting eye.
One such event that is often cited occurred on the evening of Feb. 25, 6 BC involving Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and happened in the constellation of Pisces, the Fishes. If you have ever visited a planetarium for the traditional Christmas show, you probably already know the thrill of watching as the planetarium projector races back through time to recreate this unusual event. One such result that is often quoted came about on the evening of Feb. 25, 6 BC regarding Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and occurred in the constellation of Pisces, the Fishes. If you have ever seen a planetarium for the sanctioned Christmas show, you in all likelihood already know the thrill of watching as the know the rush of watching as the planetarium projector races back through time to retell this unusual event. Another affirmable explanation for the Star of Bethlehem is the three-times conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn between May and December in 7 BC; a unusual triple or “great conjunction.” Jupiter appeared to pass one degree north of Saturn on May 29; much the synoptically on Sept. 30; then finally a third time on Dec. 5. There is no question about the visibility of these cases, mostly opposite to the Sun in dark skies. As for their astrological impingement, the Magi would have absolutely noticed that both planets did not appear to separate widely between their conjunctions.