Page 17 - Heavenly Signs II by Mel Gable

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an account of events between this eclipse and his death, and between his death and Passover. A partial eclipse took place on March
13, 4 BC, about 29 days before Passover, and this eclipse is usually taken to be the one referred to by Josephus. From: Wikipedia

If Herod died in the year 4 BC, then Christ would have been an infant when he was returned to the land of
Galilee, (assumes no delay by Joseph) and lived in a city called Nazareth to fulfill prophecy which says “He shall be
called a Nazarene”. If celestial bodies marked the birth of Christ, then we now know that 6 BC is approximately
correct for the birth of Jesus Christ. Can we more accurately determine the date of Christ’s birth? There are three
likely times that have been determined by professor Grant Mathews of Notre Dame University.

The Star of Bethlehem – Notre Dame Professor has Idea

South Bend, Indiana - A professor of theoretical astrophysics, Grant Mathews from the University of Notre Dame thinks he has
figured out what "the star in the East" was that led wise men to travel to Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, according to the Bible. After
two years of research, he came to a more ordinary conclusion: The heavenly signs which were around the time of the birth of Jesus
Christ was likely an unusual alignment of planets, the sun and the moon.
From: http://www.mazzaroth.com/ChapterSix/TheStarOfBethlehem.htm.

There are three likely times for this event.

 Feb. 20, 6 B.C., when Mars, Jupiter and Saturn aligned in the constellation Pisces.
 April 17, 6 B.C., when the sun, Jupiter, the moon and Saturn aligned in the constellation Aries, while
Venus and Mars were in neighboring constellations.
 June 17, 2 B.C., when Jupiter and Venus were closely aligned in Leo.

On the February 20, 6 BC date is the first sign in the skies that the Christ child is to be born? This gives the Magi
time to leave on their trip to Bethlehem and journey 700-900 miles from their home, where the star was seen in
the east. Jim A. Cornwell, the author of “The Star of Bethlehem Article” as well as Grant Mathews, an astrophysicist,
believe that April 17, 6 BC is the date that Christ was born and the Magi came to Bethlehem. The Magi
understood that the star would take them to the place “until it came and stood over the place where the Child was”
mentioned in Scripture.

Matthew 2:9:11 “After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the
east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw
the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with
Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they
presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
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The April 17, 6 BC event is followed by a similar event seen in the skies on June 17, 2 BC? However, Venus is a
brighter planet than Saturn. This event is questionable for the date of Christ’s birth since it is past Herod’s death.
We know that it must predate the death of Herod which was in the year of 4 BC.

Birth of Christ: Star of Bethlehem

What was “The Star in the East” that led Wise Men to travel to Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago? By using “Starry
Night” software, July 9, 6 BC is the date when three heavenly objects: Jupiter, the moon, with Pleiades are all
aligned in the east in the Constellation of Taurus. A priestly sacrifice is symbolized by Taurus, the Bull. This
event marks the conception of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. It is nine months later that the birth of Christ occurs
with an even more important sign in the heavens. This is the “Bethlehem Star” appearing in the skies that is the
Pleiades star cluster, the moon, Venus, and Jupiter aligned or coalesced in the Constellation of Taurus. This
occurs directly west on March 11, 5 BC. The “Star of Bethlehem” needs to come up in the east and go down over

15 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Mt 2:9–11). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.