Could the Star of Bethlehem, the celestial guide for the ‘three wise men’ in the Bible, really have been a comet that came as close to Earth as the moon? Mark Matney, a planetary scientist at NASA, thinks so. He’s fascinated by Christmas and the idea that a comet might have played a role in this ancient story.
Matney’s interest began during a college planetarium show about the Star of Bethlehem. The Bible describes how the star led the wise men to Bethlehem, but typical astronomical events didn’t seem to match. Many researchers have speculated on what this star could have been—from a rare planetary alignment to a supernova—but Matney saw a unique opportunity for a comet.
He noted that celestial objects like the sun and moon move in expected patterns—rising in the east and setting in the west—but a comet could act differently, appearing to hover above a location if it were close enough.
After diving into some historical records, Matney discovered that Chinese astronomers observed a bright comet in 5 BCE, which aligns closely with the timeline of Jesus’s birth. Although the comet’s orbit isn’t precisely known, simulations suggest it could have passed extremely close to Earth.
This comet would have been visible during the day, making it plausible that the wise men traveled under its light. In ancient times, people generally didn’t travel at night due to safety concerns, so a daytime comet might explain the story’s details better than a nighttime star.
Matney points out that comets were often perceived as omens, with interpretations varying widely. While some viewed them as bad signs, others saw them as heralds of significant change. Interesting enough, there are records indicating that the Chinese emperor’s reign was affected by observations of this comet, although not explicitly described as rivaling the moon’s brightness.
Interestingly, Matney proposes that if such a close passage happened, it could have caused a significant meteor shower—part of the dust from the comet would have rained onto Earth, a geologic record still to be discovered.
However, the lack of diverse historical records about this event means Matney’s theory isn’t confirmed. He acknowledges that while he’s presenting a possibility, more evidence from first-century historical or archaeological records would solidify the story.
Matney’s findings remind us that, while the story of the Star of Bethlehem is rooted in belief, scientific inquiry can offer intriguing possibilities. Today’s comets pass close to Earth, drawing excitement and sometimes panic; two millennia ago, perhaps they heralded the dawn of a new faith.
For those interested in astronomy and its intersection with history, Matney’s research, published in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association, adds a fascinating layer to an age-old mystery.
