As for understanding the astronomical explanation of the Star of Bethlehem, a combined knowledge of the old astrological beliefs and progressive computer-based planetary tables may yet give new light on this age-old query. But before going back in time to explore the potential answers, one needs to realize the many problems behind the questions.

Matthew is the only one of the four gospels which names either the Star of Bethlehem or the magi. The Gospel of Mark, believed by progressive text scholars to be the most historic of the Gospels, does not include a nativity narrative or any suggest that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The author of the Gospel of John also looks to be unsuspecting of the Bethlehem nativity narratives. The Gospels often identified Jesus as “of Nazareth,” but never as “of Bethlehem”. Many scholars have concluded that Jesus was credibly born in Nazareth and that the nativity narratives are influenced by the desire of the Gospel writers to portray his birth as a fulfillment a prophecy in the Book of Micah concerning a Bethlehem birth.

Matthew’s description of the miracles and prognostications taking care the birth of Jesus can be compared to stories touching on the birth of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Tying a birth to the first appearance of a star was pursuant with the popular belief each person’s life was joined to a particular star. Magi and astronomical events were conterminous in the communal mind by the visit to Rome of a delegation of magi at the time of a impressive appearance of Halley’s Comet in AD 66.

There are numerous other ingredients that lead to the puzzle, including the uncertainty in the objective date of Christ’s birth and the terminology used to describe celestial events during the Stars appearance some 20 centuries ago. For example, any celestial object bright enough to attract attention was apt to be called a “star.” Meteors, for instance, were “shooting” or “falling ” stars; comets were “hairy” stars; novae were “new” stars and planets were thought to be “wandering” stars.