The Star of Bethlehem and Astronomical Events

That is a fascinating area of historical astronomy. Since the Gospel of Matthew describes a celestial event that signalled the birth to the Magi (astrologers/wise men), astronomers have used modern software to "rewind" the night sky and identify real events that occurred between 7 BCE and 2 BCE.

Here are the three leading scientific theories that attempt to pinpoint the date.

1. The Triple Conjunction (7 BCE)

• The Date: A series of events occurring in May, September, and December of 7 BCE.
• The Event: A "triple conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn. In this rare event, Jupiter (the "King" planet) and Saturn (often associated with the Jewish people) passed close to each other three separate times within a few months.