Christians are well aware of the Nativity story, in which three wise men follow the "Star of Bethlehem" to the newborn Jesus. But does this biblical story have astronomical origins? What was the "Christmas Star"?
Modern skywatchers have posited many theories, such as the star being a very close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in 2 B.C or a less visually striking triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn seen throughout 7 B.C. (Historians continue to debate the actual date of Jesus' birth.) Another theory suggests it may have been a bright stellar explosion.
