The Star of Bethlehem has always fascinated astronomers. It is suggested, of course, that the three wise men, the Magi, were in fact astronomers, or more likely astrologers.
Every so often there is some scientific paper purporting to explain the Star.
Star of Bethlehem
Some have suggested it was an astronomical conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, meaning the two planets appeared to be close to each other and therefore brighter and more easily seen by the naked eye. Such a conjunction did take place around the time BC became AD, and it would place Jesus’ birth in June. A far cry from heresy, but it might have meant that Irving Berlin wouldn’t have written one of my favorite songs — “White Christmas.”
Another explanation suggests the star was a slow moving comet, and there was one around 5 BC.
Several years ago, I read an article about the birth of a star at the time in question. And it led me to write “A New Star.” It was included on my first CD, “Finally Over Losing My Mind.”
It’s a simple little carol, one which the producer and multi-instrumentalist David Leonard makes magical.
Hope you have a magical Christmas season.
thomas
A New Star
(a carol)
there’s a star, in the sky, some say a new one
and people all over the earth are taking notice
and three men are going to walk across the desert
cause they say it’s time for rejoicing
(chorus):
the angels in heaven are signing
and the saints are all clapping their hands
cause that star is hanging over Jordan
above a little town called Bethlehem
the three men, found a child, some say a king
they knelt down and thanked God for his son
then they walked all the way back across that desert
guided by a light that shone clearly as the sun.
(chorus)
there’s a star, in the sky, some say a new one
and it’s still shining, for us, both day and night
and people all over the earth, well they can see it
and at this time of year it’s especially bright.
(chorus)
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