The Star of Bethlehem
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Sir Colin Humphreys 1991
Professor Sir Colin Humphreys, FRS, is a physicist and materials scientist. He published an article about the Star of Bethlehem in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1991[1]. Professor Humphreys contributed a similar article to Science and Christian Belief[2].
Quotations from the article in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society:-
- Astronomical and historical evidence suggests that the Star of Bethlehem was a comet which was visible in 5 BC, and described in ancient Chinese records. A comet uniquely fits the description in Matthew of a star which newly appeared, travelled slowly through the sky against the star background and 'stood over' Bethlehem. It is proposed that a remarkable sequence of three astronomical events stimulated the journey of the Magi: the triple conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in 7 BC; the massing of the three planets Saturn, Jupiter and Mars in 6 BC; and finally the appearance in 5 BC of the 'star of Bethlehem', a comet initially in Capricornus.
- It is suggested that a combination of three unusual and significant astronomical events caused the Magi to set off on their journey. First there was a triple conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the constellation Pisces in 7 BC. Such an event occurs only every 900 years.... Second, in 6 BC there was a massing of the three planets Mars, Saturn and Jupiter in Pisces. Such a massing only occurs every 800 years (and very much more infrequently in Pisces).... Third, a comet appeared in 5 BC in the east in the constellation Capricornus.
Notes
- ↑ Humphreys CJ (1991) "The Star of Bethlehem - a Comet in 5BC - and the Date of the Birth of Christ", Q Jl R astr Soc, vol 32, pp 389-407. For free download from https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1991QJRAS..32..389H as at 05 Jan 2024.
- ↑ Humphreys C (1993) "The Star of Bethlehem", Science and Christian Belief, vol 5, pp 83-101. For free download from https://www.asa3.org/ASA/topics/Astronomy-Cosmology/S&CB%2010-93Humphreys.html as at 05 Jan 2024.
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