Planetary Conjunction – Another Possible Explanation for the the Christmas Star
The final idea for explaining the Christmas Star is one or more of the 5 visible naked eye planets — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn Another Star of Bethlehem is Uranus, which passed nearby to Saturn in 9 BC and Venus in 6 BC. This is improbable because Uranus travels very slowly and is only dimly visible. In truth, the chance that the Magi could have confounded one or more of the familiar planets with a star actually seems remote.
However, two or more of these mobile wanderers come together in a amazing conjunction. Perhaps a planetary grouping of rare beauty; an exceptionally close conjunction of two planets or groupings of three or more producing an eye-catching geometrical figure in the sky may have taken place between the years 7 and 2 BC. A amassing like that would be quite exceptional to the unexpecting eye.
One such event that is often cited occurred on the evening of Feb. 25, 6 BC involving Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and happened in the constellation of Pisces, the Fishes. If you have ever visited a planetarium for the traditional Christmas show, you probably already know the thrill of watching as the planetarium projector races back through time to recreate this unusual event. One such outcome that is often mentioned occurred on the evening of Feb. 25, 6 BC involving Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and took place in the constellation of Pisces, the Fishes. If you have ever travelled a planetarium for the orthodox Christmas show, you in all likelihood already know the thrill of watching as the acknowledge the tingle of following as the planetarium projector races back through time to model this unusual event. Another possible account for the Star of Bethlehem is the three-times of Jupiter and Saturn between May and December in 7 BC; a uncommon triple or “great conjunction.” Jupiter appeared to locomote itlsef one degree north of Saturn on May 29; much the like on Sept. 30; then finally a third time on Dec. 5. There is no question about the visibility of these cases, mostly opposite to the Sun in dark skies. As for their astrological impingement, the Magi would have certainly noticed that both planets did not look to separate widely between their concurrences.