According to Biblical accounts, 2,000 years ago something appeared in the sky which led a group of wise men to Jerusalem to see the birth of the new king of the Jews.
But what was this bright light in the heavens? Let’s take a look at some of the prevailing theories. ;
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Comets
Comets have been in the news quite a bit lately, what with the landing of the Rosetta mission on a moving comet. In case you haven’t heard by now, a comet is basically a big ball of dirt and ice flying through our solar system. They have really really long orbits around the sun, but like all orbiting bodies, they travel in predictable patterns.
As comets near the sun, they start to melt, releasing a tail of dust and gas that stretches out a pretty long way, sometimes hundreds of miles. Comets can remain visible in the skies for several weeks.
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
