The Star of Bethlehem: Astronomers’ Best Explanations
The source of this apparition remains a mystery to both astronomers and historians. Read more about the bright object in the night sky leading the Three Wise Men.
Quick Reference: The Star of Bethlehem
- The story: Matthew 2:1-12 describes wise men following a star to find the infant Jesus.
- Approximate date: probably 6-4 BC based on historical cross-references.
- Leading astronomical theories: Jupiter-Saturn conjunction (7 BC), Jupiter-Venus conjunction (3-2 BC), a nova, or a comet.
- Most cited: the Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunction of 7 BC, calculated by Johannes Kepler in 1614.
- Modern Christmas tradition: bright stars and planetary alignments visible in late December are sometimes called Christmas Stars.
The Star of Bethlehem from the Gospel of Matthew has fascinated astronomers since at least Johannes Kepler in the 1600s. Was it a comet? A supernova? An unusually bright planetary conjunction? Here are the leading astronomical explanations, the dates each one points to, and what would have been visible in the eastern sky 2,000 years ago.
The Leading Theories
Multiple astronomical events in the years 7 BC to 2 BC could fit the description.
- Jupiter-Saturn triple conjunction (7 BC): Kepler’s calculation. Jupiter and Saturn appeared near each other three times in the constellation Pisces over several months. Unusually striking to ancient observers.
- Jupiter-Venus conjunction (2 BC): the two brightest planets appeared so close together they nearly merged into one bright point.
- Nova or supernova: Chinese astronomers recorded a bright nova in 5 BC. It would have been visible for weeks.
- Comet: a bright comet was recorded by Chinese astronomers in 5 BC and another in 4 BC. Some scholars consider one of these a candidate.
- Lunar occultation of Jupiter: in 6 BC, the moon passed in front of Jupiter, a striking event Babylonian astrologers would have noted as important.
What the Wise Men Would Have Seen
The most likely cultural background of the magi from the East was Babylonian or Persian astrologer-astronomers. They would have been tracking planetary positions in zodiac signs for political and religious meaning. A Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Pisces (the sign traditionally associated with the Jews in Babylonian astrology) would have been read as a sign of a major king being born to the Jewish people.
Kepler argued in 1614 that this combination, calculated from his planetary tables, was the most likely candidate. Modern astronomers, with more precise orbital calculations, generally agree that the 7 BC triple conjunction is the strongest astronomical match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Star of Bethlehem a real star?
Most modern astronomers think it was a planetary conjunction (specifically Jupiter and Saturn appearing close together) rather than an actual star. A planet, not a stellar event.
When did the Star of Bethlehem appear?
Most likely 7 to 2 BC, based on historical references and what was visible in the eastern sky. Best candidates are 7 BC and 2 BC.
Can we see something similar today?
Yes. The December 21, 2020 Jupiter-Saturn conjunction was widely called the Christmas Star and was the closest similar conjunction visible in nearly 400 years.
Who first proposed the Jupiter-Saturn explanation?
Johannes Kepler, in 1614. He calculated the 7 BC triple conjunction using his own newly published planetary motion laws.
Joe Rao
Joe Rao is an esteemed astronomer who writes for Space.com, Sky & Telescope, and Natural History Magazine. Mr. Rao is a regular contributor to the Farmers' Almanacand serves as an associate lecturer for the Hayden Planetarium in New York City.
- Joe Rao
- Joe Rao
- Joe Rao
- Joe Rao
Who sent that star? Nativity scenes depict three kings, or wise men, visiting the newborn baby Jesus as he lay in the manger. According to the story, God used a star to lead them to the stable in Bethlehem. However, does that popular account match what the Bible actually says? No. In a number of ways, the story is inaccurate. First who were those men? In the original Greek, the Bible calls them neither kings nor wise men. They were magi, or astrologers, practicers of the pagan art of divination based on the stars. Second, when did those men visit? Not when Jesus was a baby in a manager, how do we know that? The Gospel writer Matthew says: “When they went into the house, they saw the young child with Mary its mother. (Matthew 2:11) Note that Jesus was no longer a newborn baby, but a “young child.” Third, who sent that “star” to lead the astrologers? Religious leaders commonly teach God sent that “star.” Did he really? Remember, the “star” did not first lead the astrologers to Bethlehem. Rather it led them to King Harod of Jerusalem. They revealed Jesus’ existence to King Harod who had strong reason for hating the child who was to become the “King of the Jews.” (Matthew 2:2) Herod told them to report back to him on the precise of location of the child, claiming that he wanted to honor it as well. The “star” then led the astrologers to Joseph and Mary. So, the astrologers were on a course that would have doomed the young child had God not intervened. So enraged was Herod when the astrologers did not report back to him that he ordered all male children two years of age and younger in around Bethlehem to be killed. —Matthew 2:16 God referred to Jesus as “my Son”, the beloved,,,,,,,” (Matthew 3:17) Consider: Would that loving, righteous Father select pagan astrologers—practicers of an occult art forbidden in his law—as his messengers? (Deuteronomy 18:10) Would God use a star to lead them to Herod who wanted Jesus dead? And would God use that same star to reveal the spot where his helpless son lay? Who, then, sent the “star,” or star like object? Well, who had the greatest interest in seeing the child Jesus put to death, preventing him from growing up and fulfilling his mission on earth? Jesus himself identified the “liar and the father of the lie,” the one who “was a manslayer when he began” —Satan the Devil. —John 8:44
I do agree with the’summery’ birth time. The shepherds were in the field. People were traveling to their hometown. The United Nations decided on the 12-25 date.
The Star of Bethlehem documentary!! As also noted in the comments from Carolyn Coffeen.
For those who don’t know, the Biblical dates can be accurately pinpointed. Michael Rood, a Christian scholar and researcher, has reconstructed the ancient Hebrew calendar and has the info for sale on his web or Face Book site. He’s not the only research scholar to have done this but he’s the first one I’ve seen to publicize the info. He also paid extremely close attention to Biblical facts such as Mary’s visit to Elizabeth…because Elizabeth’s husband was a temple priest and his service was for a set time, now known from the Hebrew calendar. This can give the time of Elizabeth’s pregnancy and delivery and therefor also Mary’s times…even factoring in travel times it took for the priest and Mary, mary having just been impregnated herself set put immediately to visit Elizabeth. So Mary’s date of delivery can be figured as occurring in Sept. Approx. of our calendar. Next, the solution to the wise men of the east…Daniel a Jew of the Bible was a captive in Babylon and made head of the School’ of the kings wise men. They were trained and taught of the Hebrew sacred writings by Daniel. They weren’t necessarily astrologers but certainly were wise in astronomy. Much of our knowledge of astronomy came from the Persians/Babylonians. Mr. Rood takes all these events into account in his research, even deciphering the so called vague referrals in the Bible to translate them into today’s language and siences by knowing the Hebrew calendar and way of life. You’d be surprised at the details contained in scripture when you know of Hebrew life. The Star is explained, the travel times of the wise men, their arrival after Jesus was a young child living in a house with Mary and Joseph, not in a cave or barn to see a newborn. It’s fascinating to hear the truth as it applies to Hebrew life, language including idioms….
There is another explanation. There WAS no star. There were no Wise Men. The world of Jesus, as it had been for thousands of years preceding his birth was a world dependent on signs, omens, oracles, fortunes and above all, ASTROLOGY, the reading of the stars and the alignment of the planets. Every king had his court astrologers. As they were reputed to foresee the future, they were considered among the wisest of men. It was not uncommon for potentates to send emissaries to foreign lands with gifts and offerings of friendship to a new king. We should also note in the Bible, the Wise Men did not follow the star to the manger Bethlehem as in the song. They went first to the Palace of King Herrod,the most logical place one might expect to find the succesor of a sitting king. It was Herrod’s religious scholars, upon consulting their texts and prophesies who pointed the Wise Men to the City of David.
Merry Christmas .
Thank you, Jerry, Merry Christmas to you.
In 1997 there was an amazing comet the scientists named the Hale-Bop comet. At the time I remember thinking and feeling like it was the comet that the 3 kings saw… it had a spectacular tail…. and traveled through the sky for everyone to see in a right to left route in the USA… They said it came around it’s orbit every 2000 or so years which is when we began recording time, the year Christ was born. Now when I research the comet I see that the actual orbit is 2537 years according to scientists but with all the dates in the Bible being approximate…. and events in the Bible being told from mouth to mouth until they were actually written down by the monks some many years later… I thought this could well be the star that the 3 kings saw and followed…and why not? In any case… I am sure that it was a comet the 3 kings saw as comets leave such an amazing trail to follow with their tails of ice and dust. Not sure if it was the “star of Bethlehem” but then again who knows what it looked like in the sky’s over Bethlehem…and who really knows what time of year it was as the Bible is just an approximation of time and no one really knows actual dates that these things occurred…for sure. Celebrating December 25th as Christ’s birthday is merely a guess adopted by the church so we could all share that celebration together and to discredit Pagan worship and it’s festivals of winter called Saturnalia.
The Church fathers would refer to that miracle star as an angel. Seems like a biblically correct way to look at it. The Magi certainly understood that it was special and not like any other star, even calling it “His star”, knowing that it served a special purpose.
The biblical passage that talks about the ‘Star’ of Bethlehem has mystified me growing up. The identity of that ‘Star’ is ever apparent by the description given by those biblical versus. The Wise Men followed the ‘Star’ from the East to the West. The ‘Star’ went before the Wise Men. The ‘Star’ went before the Wise Men and stood over the birth place of Christ. What is that ‘Star’? The Sun!
Yee of little faith. The Bible speaks of signs & wonders. Miracles that have no explanation. We still don’t know who to mummify a body or how the pyramids were built. Some things just need to be accepted as they are. It could have been a UFO leading the way for all we know. Don’t care. Not important. The fact is the Messiah was born. Acknowledged… given wealth to his family for his care…and he lived suffered & died as a sacrifice for us. Believe it or not doesn’t matter to me. But I believe and I am grateful.