Merry Christmas?
Merry Christmas! I am watching a course on ancient astronomy. One chapter is on the Star of Bethlehem. An astronomer, Michael Molnar, determined that to ancient astrologers, a double occultation of Jupiter by the moon (it happened on two nights, about a month apart) along with the position of many planets in Ares, would have indicated the birth of a king. This astrological event occurred during the reign of Herod, on April 17, 6 BC. Molnar supposes that this celestial event either drew Magi to Jerusalem and then on to Bethlehem, or that the 'Star of Bethlehem' was piously added to the Nativity narrative by a Greek who knew Greek astrology and the astrological significance. The Wikipedia "Star of Bethlehem" page explains it more clearly, but it is over my head, so this is the best I can do. So, again, Merry Christmas!