Difference between revisions of "The Star of Bethlehem"
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(Mentioned that Sir Colin Humphreys is a Fellow of the Royal Society.) (Tag: 2017 source edit) |
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===Sir Colin Humphreys 1991=== | ===Sir Colin Humphreys 1991=== | ||
<!---- The then Head of the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science at Cambridge----> | <!---- The then Head of the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science at Cambridge----> | ||
| − | [https://www.ae-info.org/ae/Member/Humphreys_Colin/CV Professor Sir Colin Humphreys, FRS], is a physicist and materials scientist. | + | [https://www.ae-info.org/ae/Member/Humphreys_Colin/CV 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<ref>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.</ref>. Professor Humphreys contributed a similar article to Science and Christian Belief<ref>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.</ref>. |
| − | + | Quotations from the article in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society:- | |
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| + | *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. | ||
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From the Conclusions to the article in Science and Christian Belief.... | From the Conclusions to the article in Science and Christian Belief.... | ||
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*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. The probable astrological significance of this event to the Magi was that a divine king would be born in Israel. 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) and it would have confirmed to the Magi that the king to be born in Israel would be a mighty king. Third, a comet appeared in 5 BC in the east in the constellation Capricornus. In the astrology of the times a comet in the east signified a rapidly approaching event. The comet was therefore the third and final sign which caused the Magi to set off on their journey. It is shown that the probable significance of the comet in Capricornus to the Magi was also that a very great king was about to be born. | *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. The probable astrological significance of this event to the Magi was that a divine king would be born in Israel. 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) and it would have confirmed to the Magi that the king to be born in Israel would be a mighty king. Third, a comet appeared in 5 BC in the east in the constellation Capricornus. In the astrology of the times a comet in the east signified a rapidly approaching event. The comet was therefore the third and final sign which caused the Magi to set off on their journey. It is shown that the probable significance of the comet in Capricornus to the Magi was also that a very great king was about to be born. | ||
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| + | *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. | ||
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| + | *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=== | |
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<references/> | <references/> | ||
Return to [[Christianity]] -> [[Bible]] -> [[Historical accuracy of the Bible]] -> [[Historicity of the New Testament (theopedia)]] | Return to [[Christianity]] -> [[Bible]] -> [[Historical accuracy of the Bible]] -> [[Historicity of the New Testament (theopedia)]] | ||
[[Category:New Testament]] | [[Category:New Testament]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:34, 12 January 2024
| The Star of Bethlehem | |
| RELATED TOPICS |
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| SERMONS, ESSAYS AND OPINIONS |
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| CONTENTS | Contents |
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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