Podcast: The Christmas Star

by Astronomy Cast on December 25, 2008

Adoration of the Magi

Adoration of the Magi


With Christmas just around the corner, we thought we’d investigate a mystery that has puzzled historians for hundreds of years. In the bible, the birth of Jesus was announced by a bright star in the sky that led the three wise men to his birthplace. What are some possible astronomical objects that might look like such a bright star in the sky? And were there any unusual events that happened at that time?

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The Christmas Star – Transcript and show notes.

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  • Chris

    @maudyfish
    “Ok Chris I understand what you want us to do. Correct me if I am wrong. You want us to follow actors and movie makers rules. They make more sense to you than the “10 C’s”.”
    I haven’t got a clue what your on about. Actors moviemakers ?????? what have you been taking. I mearly pointed out that the 10 c’s were created by man as a way of controlling people. A lot like law does today.

    @tareece
    You really do live in the dark ages. How many different species of ape are there. As a species we humans evolved from a species of ape that guess what isn’t around today as we evolved.
    I like the way you quote the book of stories (bible) at me. Are you saying I am evil or filthy. As I am neither just because I don’t believe in god. You will be burning me at the stake next. Just for your information I probably help more people in a day than you do in a year.
    I dont show religous hate I just think people like you need to fully need to appreciate science and nature before believing in a supreme being. Maybe if you weren’t brainwashed as a child you would understand.

    Religon is outdated face up to it.

    Science is sometimes wrong yet you believe in something that has absolutly no evidence whatsoever in existing.

  • Tareece

    Chris.. Geez.. I get your hate at me ok? Really…. its ok! I forgive you.
    I’m not a stone-ager. You show tru enlightenment while you throw these comments at me…

    Burn you at the stake? No kiddo… That I would never do. That task is reserved for yourself.

    Read your own hatred aimed at a person that you’ve never met but choose to vilify.
    I am GLAD you do for others. I am GLAD you think for yourself.

    But your own anger betrays your own insecurity, and frankly goes over the line into a deep felt extremist POV most would associate with the worst examples of radical
    religion.

    If you have the EVIDENCE of “the Missing God” please, do tell so I can make a case on the other hand.
    What happened 1000-2000 yrs ago is simply conjecture today resulting from our intrepretations of yesteryears accounts.
    I say there is a God. You say there isn’t . One of us is right and the other mistaken…Worse case, I’ll be wrong and will have maggots eating out myeyeswithin a couple of weeks after I pass….
    Best case… well, for me???? I’m saved, my faith rewarded… and well you’re wrong..and still forgiven.

  • Chris

    sorry where is my hate of extremist views. please quote me if you can.

  • maudyfish

    That’s too bad Chris that you feel that way because there is room for everyone and whatever their beliefs here on Earth.

  • Tareece

    Refer to below.
    In your eyes, I am an idiot, a stone-ager, outdated, of no real intellectual value, a witch burning fanatic, and a non-helping slouch of the nth dgeree….
    Nahhhhhhh, sounds like love after all.

    Chris Says:
    December 25th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
    the true mystery that puzzles me is do people still believe this ?

    Chris Says:
    December 26th, 2008 at 3:51 am
    How can people still follow the church when they still cling to their outdated belief in creationism.
    wave their “bible” (book of stories) as the only evidence they have that a god exists.

    It worked when there was no real intelligence and no real science.

    Chris Says:
    December 30th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
    Take your free will and stick it where the sun doesn’t shine

    Chris Says:
    December 30th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
    @terrece I have thrown them away…
    exactly olaf you never get extremist atheists killing people because of their religon.

    Chris Says:
    January 1st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
    @tareece
    You really do live in the dark ages
    … like the way you quote the book of stories (bible) at me. Are you saying I am evil or filthy. As I am neither just because I don’t believe in god. You will be burning me at the stake next. Just for your information I probably help more people in a day than you do in a year.

  • Demon

    are all of you people crazy?
    would you all calm down?

    first of all, no one will learn anything if you get all worked up and set on only what you believe

    when everyone is calm and not trying to kill each other over internet cables and such maybe we’ll all be able to explain our views in a less heated manner that will either allow people to be saved into the grace of God or allow people to realize that there is no God….if everyone just clears their mind and approaches this topic coolly instead of losing their tempers then one of those two things will definitely happen and everyone on this site will be surprised which way it goes….including me because i don’t profess to know how things will turn out in the end

    anyone of you people who claim that they know for absolute certainty there is no God just because they haven’t looked for the evidence is a fool
    and anyone of you who claims they know there is a God just because that’s how you grew up and you didn’t go on your own spiritual journey is also a fool

    and anyone who thinks they really KNOW anything is a fool
    and yes
    i am a fool

    so let’s just chill out and calm down ‘kay?

  • Demon

    you know, i’m going to contradict myself….

    anyone who thinks they really know anything is not always a fool

    but still my point is intact…everyone here including myself is a fool

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