what was the star of Bethlehem

wpjo

Great. Happy to read all these remarks but if one should start a new to study this matter? Calculate positions? What I do mean is:

Quote:

Certain historical and astronomical considerations strongly suggest Spica was the Bethlehem Star as it was observed at Zabol, Iran. Examining closely the local ruins reinforces this hypothesis. Astronomical observations have been reconstructed by using the freeware SkyMap-Pro8.A computational model to calculate near horizon refraction is used to correct these data for the local topology of the supposed observation spot.

The object of this paper is to examine the hypothesis whether it is physically possible (or not) that Spica could have been the Bethlehem Star, and not about proving Spica was the Bethlehem Star.

Unquote.

The rest you may find on my webpage http://dataplusplus.free.fr/spica/equinox-gb.rtf

Rented Mule

ZeRoY wrote: »

I've always read the 3 kings are the belt of Orion and it points to Sirius... on the morning of 25th december this alignement points right at the Sun rising. 25th of December also is the time when the sun starts getting up "earlier" after the 3 days past the Winter's soltice ... So there you have it, the death, 3 days, 3 kings and a bright star then the resurrection. Its been used as base for dozens of religions in history.

Exactly.

The problem is that 'Jesus' was most likely not born on December 25th. When establishing a 'new' religion, it is always best to incorporate existing traditions (the Winter Solstice Festival), hence December 25th.

ZeRoY

Actually watched a [VERY] religious interpretation of this on Documentary (The Star of Bethlehem) where the dude claims for it to be a conjunction between Jupiter and another star .... I found the all show bananas, but thats just me.

wpjo

"The most important angular measurements were between the horizon and zenith"

Wrong. The most important measures were the azimut (= position on the horizon) and altitude (position from the horizon onwards). And not from the zenith point onwards. In fact, it is very difficult to start meausuring from the zenith point for this supposes one knows already the exact zenith point. And meausring that very point right above you is extremely difficult as can tell you any novice astronomer.

wpjo

I examined the theory Spica was the Bethlehem star and that the Magi originated from Zabol, Iran:

Some arguments:

- Hipparcos predicted scientifically Spica should pass through the zodiacal equator at about that time,
- a most noteworthy series of conjunctions in the preceding 18 months might have triggered the attention of the Magi,
- Zoroastrian messianic thought coincides astonishingly with Jewish and Christian tradition, as well for names, the mythological, legendary or religious aspects, as for events,
- the event was observed on the Eastern horizon but the Magi traveled West! The star should thus represent some special (hidden) meaning for the Magi to travel into the opposite direction and STRAIGHT to Jerusalem,
- only in Persia cultural, religious and astronomical conditions were united to OBSERVE this event as such while in all other parts of the world, this event was seen but not OBSERVED,
- even today, the muslimised Iranian tradition still states firmly the Magi originated from Zabol, Iran,
- iconography as from Ravenna and the archeological findings in Zabol are in favor of this tradition,
- the former Zoroastrian observatory was just some 20 miles away from Zabol and was in active use at that time. A reconstitution of astronomical positions (including corrections due to proper motion of stars, precession, nutation, temperature, pressure, altitude, longitude and altitude, skyline) yields PERFECT results (less then 10" error),
- traditionally, Spica was considered since the Council of Nicea as having been the Bethlehem star,
- the Magi having been Zoroastrian officials, this is a strong argument in favor of the Mithra rituals mixing up with Christian religion since the end of the 3rd century CE.


A more detailed study may be found at
http://dataplusplus.free.fr/spica/equinox-gb.rtf

ps200306

wpjo wrote: »

"The most important angular measurements were between the horizon and zenith"

Wrong. The most important measures were the azimut (= position on the horizon) and altitude (position from the horizon onwards). And not from the zenith point onwards. In fact, it is very difficult to start meausuring from the zenith point for this supposes one knows already the exact zenith point. And meausring that very point right above you is extremely difficult as can tell you any novice astronomer.

You're misinterpreting me. I was talking about measuring the altitude of the Pole Star. The altitude is measured along a line stretching from the horizon to the zenith. No azimuthal measurement is required -- the ancient mariners just pointed generally north.

Beeker

Perhaps it's just a story! It never happened, it never existed. You are basing its existence on a story written by an ancient superstitious desert tribe. Do we have any independent reports of this object in the sky at the time?

Zubeneschamali

Beeker wrote: »

Do we have any independent reports of this object in the sky at the time?

I always read these things as What Ifs. What if something in the sky inspired the story, what could it have been?

Wikipedia has a few candidates.

Of course, even if some astronomical event is found which matches the Biblical account, it says nothing whatever about the truth of the various supernatural stories in there

Capt'n Midnight

Beeker wrote: »

Perhaps it's just a story! It never happened, it never existed. You are basing its existence on a story written by an ancient superstitious desert tribe. Do we have any independent reports of this object in the sky at the time?

Roll the clock forward to the dark ages and we have very few reports of anything.

It's not even known if King Author existed.

via wiki
http://www.observadores-cometas.com/Star_of_Bethlehem/English/Chinese.htm

Tordelback

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

It's not even known if King Author existed.

Damn post-structuralists.