The Christmas Star

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Most of my life I have resided in areas that were well lit at night. Only the brightest stars were visible. So my first time camping was a revelation. My God, there are a pants load of stars.

The Ancients did not have to deal with halogen lights. Except for the moon and whatever you could burn, when the sun set, it got dark and stayed dark until the sun rose again in the morning. But the stars….

The Ancients watched the heavens as we watched the Game of Thrones, but they did it every night and they took notes, copious notes.

They used the stars to determine seasons, for navigation. The lunar  calendar was based on the phases of the moon as it circled the earth. They noticed that while almost all stars were stationary, some stars moved across the sky. The Greeks called them planets – “asteres planetai” (ἀστέρες πλανῆται) – wandering stars.

Astrological studies sought to assign significance to celestial bodies and the movement of certain stars and planets assumed great importance. This is why the story of the Star of Bethlehem is so important today.

The convergence of Jupiter, Regulus and Venus occurred in 2 B.C. and this is what the Magi were tracking. Jupiter and Venus appeared to be on a collision course. To the Ancients, this was astounding. To their naked eye the two “stars” appeared as one. And where this happened was also of great significance.

This convergence occurred in the constellation of Leo, which was considered a royal constellation. Within Leo is Regulus, the “King Star.”