Do astronomers know the name and location in the night sky of The Star of Bethlehem
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Do astronomers know the name and location in the night sky of The Star of Bethlehem

[From: ] [author: ] [Date: 11-11-02] [Hit: ]
2 BC. The fusion of two planets would have been a rare and awe-inspiring event, according to Roger Sinnott.[45] This event however occurred after the generally accepted date of 4 BC for the death of Herod. Since the conjunction would have been seen in the west at sunset it could not have led the magi south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.[46] It also does not fit with an event seen at rising that might have started them on the journey.......
I'm talking about that star that shined bright over the stable where baby Jesus was born that led the Three kings to him. Do they have any records on that star?

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Astronomers now think the Star of Bethlehem was the conjunction of two or three planets Jupiter with Venus and Saturn or a bright star:

"...Astrological event Although magi (Greek μαγοι) is usually translated as "wise men," in this context it probably means "astronomer" or "astrologer".[43] The involvement of astrologers in the story of the birth of Jesus was problematic for the early Church, because they condemned astrology as demonic; a widely cited explanation was that of Tertullian, who suggested that astrology was allowed 'only until the time of the Gospel'.[44]

In 3–2 BC, there was a series of seven conjunctions, including three between Jupiter and Regulus and a strikingly close conjunction between Jupiter and Venus near Regulus on June 17, 2 BC. "The fusion of two planets would have been a rare and awe-inspiring event", according to Roger Sinnott.[45] This event however occurred after the generally accepted date of 4 BC for the death of Herod. Since the conjunction would have been seen in the west at sunset it could not have led the magi south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.[46] It also does not fit with an event seen at rising that might have started them on the journey.

Astronomer Michael Molnar has proposed a link between a double occultation of Jupiter by the moon in 6 BC in Aries and the Star of Bethlehem, particularly the second occultation on April 17.[47] This event was quite close to the sun and would have been difficult to observe, even with a small telescope,[48] which had not yet been invented.

Occultations of planets by the moon are quite common, but Firmicus Maternus, an astrologer to Roman Emperor Constantine, wrote that an occultation of Jupiter in Aries was a sign of the birth of a divine king.[47][49] "When the royal star of Zeus, the planet Jupiter, was in the east this was the most powerful time to confer kingships. Furthermore, the Sun was in Aries where it is exalted. And the Moon was in very close conjunction with Jupiter in Aries", Molnar wrote. [nb 5][50] ..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bet…

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There is no evidence that it ever existed at all - it is mentioned in only 2 out of the 4 gospels.

Some scientists hypothesise it was a comet, some a nova, some a conjunction of other bright objects. No-one knows for sure what was seen, if indeed it was seen at all.

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The 'Star of Bethlehem is believed to have been a supernova.
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