Barbara warned me that guests to the observatory tonight may ask about the Christmas star. How do I plan to respond?
My first inclination was to attempt to debunk myths, but after reflection, that tactic seemed pointless.
From some quick research I learn that many Biblical scholars place the time of Jesus' birth in late 3 B.C.E., specifically between September 10th and September 25th. Some say the Magi were politicians from Persia, some say they were astrologers. If the Wise Men were believers in the influence of the relative positions of the planets on the celestial sphere, the star of Christmas may have been lees a sight in the sky and more a sign in their charts.
Modern planetarium software allows astronomers to "see" the sky years into the future and years into the past. During September of 3 B.C.E. then in February and again in May of 2 B.C.E. the King of the planets, Jupiter, moved past the bright star Regulus three times. Superior planets go thru retrograde motion because of the geometry of Earth's inner orbit and their outer orbits. After being hidden in the sunlight, Jupiter moved past Regulus, slowed, reversed direction and moved past Regulus again, then finally slowed, stopped and continued in its original direction among the background stars.
Blue-white Regulus is associated with royalty, and to have the King of planets wander past Regulus three times in less than a year could certainly be a noteworthy sight. Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo, an important star group for the tribe of Judah in Israel.
On Christmas night 2009 Regulus will rise late in the evening. Jupiter will set early.
And now it has begun to rain. Forecasts call for the rain to continue thru the night.
Maybe next Christmas we can share the stories.
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