According to the Gospel of Matthew, the Star of Bethlehem guided three Magi, or wise men, to Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago. After consulting with King Herod of Judea, the men followed the star to ...

One of the classic images of the Christmas holiday is that of three wise men or kings traveling to Bethlehem, over which hangs a brilliant star. The Star of Bethlehem has its roots in the opening ...

That prompted some to dub the sight a “Christmas Star,” and others to wonder about a similar-sounding celestial event that coincided with the biblical first Christmas: the Star of Bethlehem.

The astronomical term is retrograde motion, and could explain why Matthew 2:9 states that the Star stood still over Bethlehem. (The birth of Jesus around 6 B.C. fits what scholars know from other ...