In a rare … Well, that’s exactly what’s happening on December 21st, 2020, and people are coining it the real ‘star of Bethlehem’. As Astronomy Magazine reported, Jupiter and Saturn’s orbits aligned in 7 B.C. Here’s what astronomy says about the biblical star at Christ’s Birth. The event may also be a sign of good things to come in 2021. The lecture, which isn’t being held this year due to COVID-19, focuses on the star that the Magi, or the Three Wise Men, followed to Bethlehem, and what astronomical event it … This will be the closest conjunction since 1623 and will officially take place on Dec. 21, although the “Christmas Star” will be visible the entire fourth week of the month, according to EarthSky. Jupiter and Saturn may have appeared to come together three times as they danced around each other in the sky during a period of conjunction close to when Jesus was reportedly born, during the year 7 B.C. Is The Clubhouse Creating An Equitable Environment For All Its Users? Your email address will not be published. December 14, 2020. For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him. Though it’s impossible to know what the future will bring, the reappearance of the Christmas Star is a reminder of the ways God reveals His kindness to those He shepherds. 800 years later, the star of Bethlehem will be visible again in the sky. The Great Conjunction—or, the Star of Bethlehem—will take place on the evening of December 21, 2020. The magi dispensed by King Herod undeniably felt this when the star revealed to them the location of the infant Jesus, as Matthew 2:9-11 says: “After listening to the king, they went on their way. “The Star of Bethlehem is a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus,” he explains. Magic Star of Bethlehem Will Be Visible 21 December for First Time in 800 Years. According to NASA, before Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn hadn’t come so close together in the sky for 400 years, and not at night for nearly 800 years. In other words, maybe Matthew, writing decades after Jesus’ death, wasn’t recalling something physical seen in the sky but instead a spiritual idea. Jupiter and Saturn appeared closer to each other in the night sky tonight than they have in 800 years — forming a celestial beacon akin to the 'Star of Bethlehem'. Required fields are marked *. — My Beautiful Destination (@MyBeauDes) December 22, 2020 JOEL_2020 tweeted that it has been 800 years since the "Star of Bethlehem" has been seen. It will be best visible in the southwestern sky approximately 45 minutes after sunset. They then appeared to “merge into a single star” in June of 2 B.C. But if the Star of Bethlehem was a planetary conjunction, Astronomy reported, a Jupiter-Saturn pair-up isn’t the only candidate. Christians know this means God will never leave His children to wallow in suffering. Chinese astrologers noted a “broom star” in the sky in 5 B.C., likely a comet, that could also explain the Star of Bethlehem. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. It’s a reminder of God’s greatest gift, where He revealed Himself in the form of His Son so His servants would know they are the recipients of the deepest love imaginable. Yes, the symbolic Christmas star will be visible from December 16, but the best day to observe it will be December 21, coinciding with the winter solstice. The Christmas Star, a rare celestial event associated with the biblical Star of Bethlehem will hit its peak and be visible over Long Island's western skies shortly after sunset on Dec. 21. The next time the conjunction will occur at a distance this close will be on March 15, 2080. Is the star of Bethlehem visible now? It's time to dust off those telescopes, because in just a few days we will have the opportunity to witness something that not many have, or ever will again, in the sky above us. Read our, Samuel Corum / Getty Images; Bryan Bedder / Getty Images, Mike Groll / AP; Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images, South Bend's Infrastructure Was So Bad When Buttigieg Was Mayor, Domino's Had to Help Fill Potholes, Southwest Employee Goes Above and Beyond Call of Duty to Help a Mother Fulfill Wish for Her Children, Glass Monument Erected to Kamala Harris Outside Lincoln Memorial: Girls Deserve a Better Role Model, Students Hold Mass Inside Chapel Made of Ice, Prove That Religion and Fellowship Will Always Persevere, Beleaguered Chicago Mayor Comes to Shocking Realization That Locking Down Students in Their Homes Is Bad, Dems Want to Mandate Paid Maternity Leave: Here's Why That's a Bad Idea, Is This Health Care? Many people are worried not only for their physical health but for their mental health as well, as various state-level restrictions keep businesses and churches shuttered and loved ones separated from one another. In 3 B.C., Jupiter and Venus came just as close from Earth’s point of view as this year’s Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, and Venus usually looks brighter from Earth than both Jupiter and Saturn. This year has been rife with challenges, but the struggles tied to life on Earth are nothing new. Rice University astronomer Patrick Hartigan explained that lesser alignments between these planets occur about every 20 years. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him…” (Matthew 2:9, New American Standard Bible). But what was it? 2020 has been a rough year but there is a year-end treat coming to the sky tonight. It wouldn’t be crazy to think so. This will be the closest conjunction since 1623 and will officially take place on Dec. 21, although the “Christmas Star” will be visible the entire fourth week of the month, according to EarthSky. Fastest Internet Data Rate Achieved In A 5G Trial, Cornwall Council Launches New Environmental Growth Strategy. Was the “Star of Bethlehem” that led the magi to the infant Jesus in the Bible the same as the Christmas Star that will be visible on Monday (Dec. 21)? We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Writing for The Conversation, Eric M. Vanden Eykel, a professor of religion at Ferrum College in Virginia, said: “I believe Matthew’s story of the star exists not to inform readers about a specific astronomical event, but to support claims that he is making about the character of Jesus.”. Will the Star of Bethlehem appear in 2020? such that from Earth they appeared to come together three times in the constellation Pisces — a relatively rare event, first proposed as the true Star of Bethlehem in the 1600s by Johannes Kepler, according to The Conversation. For additional details about viewing the conjunction, or to learn more about the science behind this celestial event, visit the EarthSky website. CommentarySamuel Corum / Getty Images; Bryan Bedder / Getty Images NBC's Andrea Mitchell Tries to Correct Ted Cruz, Embarrasses Herself Instead, CommentaryDoug Mills - Pool / Getty Images It Looks Like Biden Just Made an Ugly Diplomacy Blunder in First Talk with Xi Jinping, Unwittingly Handed China a Huge Gift, Julie Smith / AP Producer Provides Harrowing Update as Rush Limbaugh Misses Show, CommentaryArturo Holmes / Getty Images '1619 Project' Creator Scrubs Twitter After Getting Blasted for Doxing Reporter. It wouldn't be crazy to think so. such that from Earth they appeared to come together three times in the constellation Pisces — a relatively rare event, first proposed as the true Star of Bethlehem in the 1600s by Johannes Kepler, according to The Conversation. Opening A New Window Into The Universe – Pakistani Prof, Threshold For Dangerous Global Warming To Be Crossed Between 2027-2042, University Of Adelaide Is Home To World-Leading Researchers, African Govt Needs To Invest More In Research and Development, A space rock causes a sonic boom as it crashes into atmosphere over Japan, HEC Invites Proposals For CPEC Collaborative Research Grant 2021, The Sister2Sister Exchange Programme 2021 Announced, Fawad To Initiate Scholarship Program For Schoolchildren, Three International Scholarships Deadline Is Near: HEC, Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources. Published December 6, 2020 at 9:19am. On Dec. 21, people will have the opportunity to experience the same awe as the three wise men when they looked to the sky and saw the “Christmas Star,” or the “Star of Bethlehem,” shining brightly. CBN News. ... 12-21-2020. Published by Novinite on Thu, 12/17/2020 - 12:13. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Higher Education Commission, Carbon Capture System To Be Tested At Technology Centre Mongstad, Small Orange Or Green Dot In The Corner Is An iOS 14 Feature, Increased Infrastructure-Sharing Of Mobile Towers In Oman. Pakistan's Newspaper on Science, Technology, Engineering, Innovation. Read our editorial standards. Christmas Star will be visible on December 21 - how to see it in the UK . According to Patrick Hartigan, astronomer at Texas Rice University, the Star of Bethlehem will be seen starting December 21, 2020. Your email address will not be published. Jupiter and Saturn will come together on Monday, nearly merging in the sky, a phenomenon known as the Great Conjunction that happens roughly once every 20 years. In other words, will we be seeing what the Wise Men ostensibly saw 2,000 years ago? According to Mathews, a similar phenomenon can occur every 16,000 years. Stargazers merely have to look toward the southwest portion of the sky starting about 45 minutes after sunset on Dec. 21, and the star will be visible at night for an entire week. '” (Matthew 2:1, New American Standard Bible), “…and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over where the Child was. But there’s no evidence of a supernova around the time of Jesus’ birth. Was the star of Bethlehem Jupiter? She has been published in several media outlets, including Live Action News and the Washington Examiner. How to watch 'Star of Bethlehem' in first visible Christmas sighting in 20 years. “The conjunction, which means a coming together, was so close that they basically stacked like a … With more government oversight likely to come, devastating the economy and suppressing vital liberties — including the freedom of religion — it can be difficult to see beyond the trials of the present. Vidmar Fernandes / 500px / Getty Images. Winding back the orbits of the planets to the time of Jesus is fairly simple. It’s conceivable that that combined light in the sky was recorded as a star, and associated with Jesus’ birth, and thus named the Christmas Star, according to EarthSky. Viewing conditions will depend on the weather and skies in your area. Five Times Abortionists Were Caught Hoarding Aborted Baby Body Parts, NBC's Andrea Mitchell Tries to Correct Ted Cruz, Embarrasses Herself Instead, It Looks Like Biden Just Made an Ugly Diplomacy Blunder in First Talk with Xi Jinping, Unwittingly Handed China a Huge Gift, Producer Provides Harrowing Update as Rush Limbaugh Misses Show, '1619 Project' Creator Scrubs Twitter After Getting Blasted for Doxing Reporter. 6217147795001 . Still, God entered this broken world in the form of an innocent babe to lavish mankind with His grace and invite them to choose Him. Do you need something to help you light up the holiday season? Bethlehem Star visible at sunset on Winter Solstice by JAMESON INNIS, Sinclair Broadcast Group Monday, December 21st 2020 A simulation of the … Star gazers will want to spot the Star of Bethlehem on Monday December 21, 2020 Credit: Stellarium/Real Press What is the Star of Bethlehem? He said 800 symbolizes resurrection and new beginning. “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem… magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”. A Christmas Star Will Light Up The Colorado Sky For The First Time In Centuries. The Christmas Star, also referred to as the Star of Bethlehem, is a phenomenon that occurs when the planets of Jupiter and Saturn are so closely aligned that they appear to be one giant star from our perspective. As 2020 comes to a close, a once-in-a-lifetime sight will appear in the night sky just in time for the holidays. Captcha loading...In order to pass the CAPTCHA please enable JavaScript. Planetary conjunctions aren’t the only options, Astronomy noted. See photos of the astronomical star, which won’t appear again until 2080. In an event that has not occurred in almost 800 years, Jupiter and Saturn will appear to almost collide in a phenomenon scientists refer to as a “conjunction,” making them look like an incredibly bright  “double planet,”according to a report from Forbes Media. The theory that the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn may be the Star of Bethlehem is not new. Although the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn can be done 20 years apart. On Dec. 21, people will have the opportunity to experience the same awe as the three wise men when they looked to the sky and saw the “Christmas Star,” or the “Star of Bethlehem,” shining brightly. Was the “Star of Bethlehem” that led the magi to the infant Jesus in the Bible the same as the Christmas Star that will be visible on Monday? Tap here to add The Western Journal to your home screen. Later this month, you can witness a rare event in the night sky that has not been seen in almost eight centuries. Did the biblical "Star of Bethlehem" come back in 2020? Saturn and Jupiter are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia. Is the Rare ‘Christmas Star’ Visible this December the Star of Bethlehem? That, in fact, is why the Great Conjunction, as it’s more correctly called, is also known as the Christmas Star — because of its connection with the birth of Jesus. Samantha Kamman is an associate staff writer for The Western Journal. Rare ‘Star of Bethlehem’ appears on Dec. 21. And supernovas throughout history have looked to people on Earth like big bright stars. The star will be visible in the southwest portion of the sky about 45 minutes after sunset in the northern hemisphere on Dec. 21. Searching for this wondrous sign of God should be simple, as no matter where someone is, God’s miracles can find those who need to witness them the most. But it's not the only possibility. So according to the Gospel of Matthew, a bright star in the sky at the time of Jesus’ birth announced his birth. (Meanwhile, as Live Science previously reported, the exact year of Jesus’ birth is uncertain.). However, sightings of the star may be visible throughout the week. According to NASA, before Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn hadn’t come so close … Jupiter and Saturn aligned to form a rare “Christmas Star” on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. If the Biblical account is any indication, it does seem like people remembered seeing something bright in the sky back then. This will happen at Christmas 2020. In other words, this "star" is actually our perspective of two planets drawing closer to each other. While stargazers can appreciate the spectacle before it slips away, for Christians, an experience such as this is merely a glimpse of the wonders God can perform. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Higher Education Commission (HEC) Invited Research Proposals From Faculty Members Of HEC For CPEC Collaborative Research Grant. The planets will appear in the southwest sky about an hour after sunset. But for the planets to appear this close to one another is “exceptionally rare,” and such an event isn’t likely to happen again until March 15, 2080. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. In times such as these, it can be easy to despair, so that’s why the reappearance of the Christmas Star is so significant. “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. By Charlotte Ikonen @charlotteikonen Regional Audience and Content Editor. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. RELATED: Southwest Employee Goes Above and Beyond Call of Duty to Help a Mother Fulfill Wish for Her Children. The ACTUAL STAR OF BETHLEHEM will be visible on December 21/2020!!!!!!!!! The star isn't expected to be seen again until 2080. As Astronomy Magazine reported, Jupiter and Saturn’s orbits aligned in 7 B.C. There’s nothing like a little Christmas miracle to inspire cheer after the chaos of 2020. TRENDING: South Bend's Infrastructure Was So Bad When Buttigieg Was Mayor, Domino's Had to Help Fill Potholes. No, we do not mean alcohol (though we will not judge), but something a bit more magical, like a gigantic star that only shows up once every few centuries, which is exactly what Colorado will soon experience via this super-bright, must-see Christmas star: That should inspire hope in this tumultuous year. There’s nothing like a little Christmas miracle to inspire cheer after the chaos of 2020. Coincidentally the Christmas Star will make its appearance on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. This profound moment reminded us of some amazing astronomical insights about the true Star of Bethlehem. “You’d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky,” Hartigan told Forbes.