The star of Bethlehem

[cookie8 (Vincent)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

Thanks for the heads up - I will set Foxtel to record.
Some months ago, there was an article in either Astronomy or Aust. Sky & Telescope magazine giving some thoughts on it but for the life of me I can't remember what they thought it might be, and it could take me a month of Sundays to dig through all the magazines. I wish I had a quick reference method for trying to find things in those magazines.

Hi Suzy
The article was on page 67 of Astronomy 2006 year book. I thought it was 2 years ago but usually it will be right if you double that.

[M110 (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

Thank you- that was a very informative read. You're right- though it's a long read, it did keep my attention too, right to the very end.

That was a good lot of reading, kept me busy for a while, thank you both

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by cookie8

Hi Suzy
The article was on page 67 of Astronomy 2006 year book. I thought it was 2 years ago but usually it will be right if you double that.

Hi Vincent, many thanks for taking the time to look that up. I don't have books that go that far back though; this article would have been within the last 8 months (but closer to six I think). I'm going to start digging..

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

Hi Vincent, many thanks for taking the time to look that up. I don't have books that go that far back though; this article would have been within the last 8 months (but closer to six I think). I'm going to start digging..

Suzy and Vincent, this article is published in a couple of times over the last few years
Suzy I have the 2006 year book

[rcheshire (Rowland)]

Or.....it may have never happened at all. Only one of the four gospels, Matthew, mentions the star and the magi (and only one other, Luke mentions the birth of Jesus). The others either considered it unimportant or hadn't heard the story. Anyway, it's always puzzled me how any celestial object, be it star, planet or comet, could direct anyone to a specific house

I think the considered opinion, reading the article posted earlier, is that the object did not point to a specific location, as in a house/stable. That, I feel, is an interpretation that may have been somewhat idealised by our forebears.

Interesting that the gospels differ in detail - but they are different perspectives centered around a single theme - it doesn't surprise me that the Star of Bethlehem is not mentioned in every case. It may not have been of particular significance to one author.

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by NeilW

Or.....it may have never happened at all. Only one of the four gospels, Matthew, mentions the star and the magi (and only one other, Luke mentions the birth of Jesus). The others either considered it unimportant or hadn't heard the story. Anyway, it's always puzzled me how any celestial object, be it star, planet or comet, could direct anyone to a specific house

The controversy over this subject has raged for years. There have been countless searches for possible phenomena without turning up any real possibilities. The most likely reason is "authors interpretation". I would suggest that as the Magi were coming from the east they watched Venus setting in the west over a number of nights and placed their own interpretation of a normal astronomical event. Each night it would have set a little earlier leading them to believe they were getting closer to their object.

Barry

[rcheshire (Rowland)]

Equally then, there is no reason not to suggest that it was other than planetary.

The Magi would have been familiar with the rising and setting of Venus. A special event in their dialogue, on the other hand, it prompted them to make the journey. Which may indicate that the phenomena that they were observing was out of the ordinary.

[Suzy]

I found the article!
It's the Astronomy magazine January 2010. Way back than I expected, and wasn't AS&T as I thought. I went on to the Astronomy website and printed out their index for their magazines. http://www.astronomy.com/en/Magazine/About Magazine/Annual Index/2004/03/Annual index.aspx Lots of printing at around 35 pages per year - but well worth it. Index's are now nicely filed with magazines in their binders.
Australian Sky & Telescope have an index to their magazines also. http://www.austskyandtel.com.au/TheM...S/Default.aspx

[Keshdogga (Casey)]

Disregard My comment.

[rcheshire (Rowland)]

The discussion has proceeded on the basis that the events in question are recorded by several sources. The scientific approach should be an examination of the authenticity of the accounts. But this has not been a focused discussion, instead, some have sought out articles and so on, as a matter of curiosity and fun.

[Keshdogga (Casey)]

Yeah I'm sorry I was very very tired when I wrote that stupid reply It'd be alot better to just completely disregard what I said. Sorry guys.