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Planetary conjunction
- What has become known popularly as the “Christmas Star” is an especially vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn come together, culminating on the night of Dec. 21.
www.nasa.gov/solar-system/the-great-conjunction-of-jupiter-and-saturn/
People also ask
What is the 'Christmas Star'?
Did a 'Christmas Star' coincide with the first Christmas?
What if a star miraculously appeared in the night sky?
What is a 'star of Bethlehem' or 'Christmas Star'?
What does the sky look like after sunset?
When did Halley's comet appear in the night sky?
Explanation 1: the Christmas star was a nova or supernova explosion. The idea that the Magi saw a nova or supernova explosion was hinted at by 17th century astronomer, Johannes Kepler, and has had many supporters since. However, there is no Western record of such an event.
- The Star of Bethlehem. The story of the Star of Bethlehem appears only in the Book of Matthew. The gospel tells us that a bright star appeared in the eastern sky when Jesus was born, famously seen by a group of wise men.
- Evidence for the Star of Bethlehem. For centuries, astronomers have looked to the historical record in search of evidence for what could explain this Star of Bethlehem.
- A Christmas Comet? In the past, some interested astronomers have also suggested the Star of Bethlehem was a comet passing near Earth. These icy bodies from the distant solar system often shine quite brightly when they venture into the inner solar system and are heated by the Sun.
- Ancient great conjunction. What about a mash-up of planets like the Great Conjunction of 2020? Could that explain the Star of Bethlehem? When you rewind the motion of the planets — something that’s easy to do with observing software these days — you can see that several interesting conjunctions played out in the years around the life of Jesus.
Dec 22, 2020 · Jupiter and Saturn have crossed paths in the night sky, appearing to the naked eye as a "double planet". The timing of this conjunction, as the celestial event is known, has caused some to...
Dec 15, 2020 · What has become known popularly as the “Christmas Star” is an especially vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn come together, culminating on the night of Dec. 21.
Dec 24, 2015 · Although the Star of Bethlehem appears just once in the Bible, in the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, it has become one of the holiday’s most important and enduring symbols.
Dec 21, 2020 · Jupiter and Saturn will line up on Dec. 21, so close together that they’ll appear as one bright shining star. Many are referring to it as the “Christmas Star.”
Dec 21, 2022 · If a star did miraculously appear in the night sky at the moment of Christ’s birth then fade from view over a few weeks then a possible candidate is a supernova—an exploding star.
