What was the Star of Bethlehem?

It may have been a case of the Moon hiding Jupiter...

American astronomical historian Michael Molnar has come up with even more spectacular astrological perspective. Molnar has checked out the astrological charts for the last decade BC, looking for strange configurations that would have excited the Magi. And he hit pay-dirt with the chart for 17 April 6 BC. On that date, Jupiter - the king of the planets - was rising just before the Sun. This significant event was known to ancient astrologers as "rising in the east" - just as we read in the Bible. And, simultaneously, the moon moved right in front of Jupiter. Such occultations are very rare, and astrologically extremely important.

So this date marked the birth chart of someone extremely important - not just a king, but the Messiah. In the chart, the sign of Aries was picked out by the Sun and Venus, the planet of love and hope. And to astrologers, Aries represented the kingdom of Judaea.

According to Molnar, that's why the Magi were inspired to trek across the desert to the capital of Judaea, Jerusalem, to enquire after the birth of the Messiah. Once there, they heard prophecies of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem. On this reckoning, Jesus was born in the spring of 6 BC.

Whatever it was, the Christmas Star has inspired great art - such as this Nativity by Giotto di Bondone

So - was the Nativity in the autumn of 7 BC, in the aftermath of a triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn; in the spring of 6 BC, presaged by an occultation of Jupiter by the Moon; or in the spring of 5 BC, heralded by a comet?

Or was the whole event was perhaps just an embellishment to the story of Jesus. The star is, in fact, mentioned in only one of the four Gospels. St Matthew must have been aware of an Old Testament prediction that the birth of the Messiah would be accompanied by a portent in the sky - "there shall come a Star out of Jacob" (Book of Numbers) - and so it may have been natural to ensure that his account included a magnificent Star of Bethlehem.

More on…

- the triple conjunction of late 7 BC

- the occultation of Jupiter by the Moon in spring 6 BC

- the comet of spring 5 BC

- a theory that involves several astronomical events

For more information

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