Expert: Tom Whiting - 12/20/2010

Question
thank you for the answer.I am watching several documentaries on the " Star of Bethlehem" and that seemed to be one of the solutions. The answer of choice right now seems to be Saturn passing over Venus while going through Leo. I appreciate your speedy answer very much.

Answer
Hi Billy,
One of the best, and most plausible suggestions was put forth by Dr. Michael Molnar of the University of Maryland, some years ago. Studying old Roman coins of the era, and using a computer, Dr. Molnar came up with a double occultation of Jupiter by the moon within I believe a 60 day period... in the constellation of Aries, with Mars nearby. This had very significant importance to the astrologers (so called Wise Men) of the day. Occultations by the moon are omnipotent in astrology, and Aries with Mars nearby all represented Judea to the astrologers.
{The 'sign' HAD to be given astrologically (not astronomically) back then, because there was no true science of astronomy as we know it today, but they, the Wise Men, were all 'astrologers', even though today we astronomers consider "astrology" a... dirty word.)
Anyhow, read his account, and you'll see what I mean, at
http://www.suite101.com/content/star-of-bethlehem-new-twist-to-old-theories-a821...
I think it's pretty obvious today that it, the Star, was NOT a supernova, rare comet, or something out of the ordinary... so that only leaves a 'special' occurrence of 'normal' objects, and a double occultation of a bright planet... fills that bill.
If not, then next I'd fall back on a conjunction or transit of bright planets, one going over or close pass, of another one, as a lot of those were happening in the night sky back around 2000 years ago.
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA USA