The ‘Star of Bethlehem’ described in the Gospel of Matthew remains one of astronomy’s greatest mysteries. Matthew 2:1-12 explains how magi or astrologer-priests observed the rising of a certain star which imparted that the ‘King of the Jews’ had been born. The star then makes a supernatural maneuver—veering from its mathematically preordained course and going “ before them until having come it stood over [the place] where the child was.” The magi then enter the Christ-child’s ‘house’ and found him with his mother, whence they present their iconic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"92795","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"460","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"610"}}]] The Three Wise Men following the Star, Basilica of Sant’ Appollinare Nuovo, (526 AD) ( Public Domain ) The Gospel of Luke recounts an entirely
