Flirgan Elf

The Christmas Star, some say, was a planetary conjunction. But possibly no previous planetary grouping can be equivalent to that of the two most halcyon planets Venus and Jupiter for the explanation that we seek. And if we involve the only famed explanation of the Star literally, as dedicated in St. Matthew, then what we genuinely require is the appearance of not barely one, but two “stars.” The first appearance would have been witnessed well in advance of the Magis arrival in Bethlehem, and the other at the end of their long journey.

In Hellenistic astrology, Jupiter was the male monarch planet and Regulus (in the constellation Leo) was the Rex star. As they traveled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, the star “went before” the magi and then “stood over” the position where Jesus lived. In astrological versions, these phrases are supposed to refer to backward motion and to stationing, i.e., Jupiter seemed to reverse track for a time, then discontinued, and ultimately resumed its normal progression. In about 2 or 3 BC, there was a series of seven alignments, including three between Jupiter and Regulus and a strikingly conjunction between Jupiter and Venus close Regulus on June 17, 2 BC. “The fusion of two planets would have been a exceptional and awe-inspiring event” – according to many astronomers.

Others have suggested a connection between a double occultation of Jupiter by the moon in 6 BC in Aries and the Star of Bethlehem, especially the second occultation on April 17. This event was quite nearby to the sun and would have been challenging to find, even with a small telescope, which had not yet been manufactured. Occultations of planets by the moon are quite usual, but an astrologer to Roman Emperor Constantine wrote that an eclipse of Jupiter in Aries was a announcement of the birth of a divine king.

“When the majestic star of Zeus, the planet Jupiter, was in the east this was the most robust time to confer kingships. Moreover, the Sun was in Aries where it is glorified. And the Moon was in very close conjunction with Jupiter in Aries.”