Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute One PARI Drive Rosman, NC

Welcome to Evening at PARI The Star of Bethlehem Dr. Mike Castelaz Dr. Bob Hayward Ms. Christi Whitworth

Two Questions 1. When was Jesus born? 2. What was the Star of Bethlehem?

Jesus was born 8-4 B.C.? Herod began his reign about 38 B.C. and reigned for 34 years. There was a lunar eclipse coinciding with a Jewish festival the night Herod died – possibly March 13, 4 B.C. The magi visited Herod before he died. He chose to kill children up to 2 years old. Therefore, the star must have appeared at least 2 years before the death of Herod.

Jesus was born 3-2 B.C.? Herod may not have died until at least 1 B.C. He was removed from office by Caesar Augustus in 4 B.C. but later killed his three sons. The lunar eclipse of January 9, 1 B.C. on the date of his death is a better fit than that of March 13, 4 B.C. Again, the star must have appeared at least 2 years before the death of Herod.

When was Jesus born? Probably between 8 B.C. and 2 B.C.

What was the Star of Bethlehem? What could have occurred in the skies over the Middle East between 8 B.C. and 2 B.C. that was interpreted so significantly?

What was the Star of Bethlehem? A Star?

Stars In ancient times everything in the sky was a “star.” Even today we use the term loosely: Venus or Jupiter is the “Morning or Evening Star.” Meteors are “Shooting or Falling Stars.” So, stars in general were too well known to be seen as so significant.

What was the Star of Bethlehem? A Comet?

Can be very spectacular Appear for days, if not weeks A Comet…

Comets are made up of: frozen water, frozen carbon dioxide, and frozen ammonia. silicates like those found in sand. carbon that makes the nucleus dark.

As comets orbit and approach the Sun, they begin to heat up and develop a tail

Were Comets recorded? The Chinese recorded comets in 5 and 4 B.C. –5 B.C. comet with a visible tail –Possible comet in 4 B.C. –Halley’s comet was seen in 12 B.C.

However… Comets would have been considered bad omens not one to celebrate. No bright comets were recorded in 3-2 B.C.

What was the Star of Bethlehem? A Meteor?

Meteors StarrySkies.com

Meteorite MeteorWatch.com

Meteor Shower spaceweather.com

Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peaks 1:40 a.m. EST January 4

I don’t think it was a meteor….. Meteors are very common but fleeting phenomena. It’s hard to imagine the Magi following something so transitory.

What was the Star of Bethlehem? A Supernova?

Supernovae Exploding stars About once every 100 years a naked-eye supernova occurs. Can be very bright and last for months.

Was one observed? A nova was recorded in Capricorn 5 B.C. in March or April

Sorry… No one else saw the Star of Bethlehem other than the Magi. It’s to be expected that we would find records of the Chinese observing it. Even Herod’s advisors would have been aware of it. There is no mention that they were; Herod had to ask the Magi where they had seen it.

What was the Star of Bethlehem? A Planetary Conjunction?

Planets Seven ancient planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon and the Sun They MOVE! They make loops in the sky – retrograde loops. Sometimes they pass each other – conjunctions. If they pass each other during a retrograde loop, we can have a triple conjunction.

Triple Conjunction of 7 B.C. Jupiter – King of the planets and Star of David Saturn – Protector of the Jews Triple conjunction –May 29 –September 29 –December 4

May 29, 7 B.C.

September 29, 7 B.C.

December 4, 7 B.C.

Other Planetary Configurations February, 6 B.C. - Jupiter, Saturn and Mars in Pisces

February 6 B.C.

Other Planetary Configurations February, 6 B.C. - Jupiter, Saturn and Mars in Pisces May 19, 3 B.C. – Saturn and Mercury followed by June 12, 3 B.C. – Saturn and Venus September 14, 3 B.C. and February 17 and May 8, 2 B.C. – Triple conjunction of Jupiter and Regulus June 17, 2 B.C. – Jupiter and Venus appear as one in Leo August 27, 2 B.C. – Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Mercury in Leo

I don’t think it was a conjunction… Conjunctions were too well known. Nobody, especially the Magi, would have seen just the appearance of one of these as having special portent.

What was the Star of Bethlehem? ?

.. A Miracle?

Happy Holidays!

The End

References Marshall, Roy K. The Star of Bethlehem, The Morehead Planetarium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC Mosley, John. The Christmas Star, Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, CA 1987.

Caesar Augustus “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” Luke 2:1 (KJV) There were three great taxations of Roman citizens during the reign of Caesar Augustus – 28 BC, 8 BC and 14 AD. Roman temple inscription near Ankara, Turkey

When was Jesus born? Scenario No. 1

Herod In September, 31 BC he defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the naval battle of Actium. This was the 7 th year of Herod’s reign. Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews Herod fell ill at about age 70 “that very day which the Jews observe as a feast (the Purim?)…and that very night there was an eclipse of the Moon.” Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews

Lunar Eclipses During this Period November 18, 8 BC March 23, 5 BC September 25, 5 BC March 13, 4 BC January 9, 1 BC December 29, 1 BC

Which one fits? March 13, 4 BC is the only eclipse of the Moon which coincides with a Jewish festival.

When was Jesus born? Scenario No. 2

In 4 BC Augustus removed Herod from the throne. Herod’s son Antipater took the throne. He was later killed by Herod. Some historians believe Herod died in early 1 BC. The March 13, 4 BC was only a partial eclipse and occurred in the early morning hours. It preceded Passover by only 30 days…not enough time for events to take place.

Lunar Eclipses The January 9, 1 BC eclipse was a total eclipse that started about 11:30 pm. It preceded Passover by 3 months. So…some historians argue Herod died in 1 BC.

The Murder of the Children “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under…” Matthew 2:16 (NIV) So the star must have appeared at least two years before the death of Herod, i.e., 6 BC or 3 BC. Josephus does not mention this event.

Herod “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem…” Matthew 2:1-7 (NIV) Herod became king during the 184 th Olympiad and ruled for 34 years. Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews