{"id":56203,"date":"2025-12-09T14:36:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T14:36:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/56203\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T14:36:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T14:36:26","slug":"bible-bombshell-as-nasa-scientist-proposes-what-star-of-bethlehem-really-was","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/56203\/","title":{"rendered":"Bible bombshell as NASA scientist proposes what Star of Bethlehem really was"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>NASA planetary scientist Mark Matney has identified a 5BC comet as a potential candidate for the Star of Bethlehem from the nativity story<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Three-Wise-Men.jpg\" alt=\"Three Wise Men\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>A NASA scientist claims to have found the Star of Bethlehem(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">A NASA expert believes he&#8217;s cracked the code on the legendary Star of Bethlehem. According to Biblical accounts, this celestial beacon guided the three wise men to the newborn Jesus during the nativity story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">The star reportedly emerged in the eastern sky, leading the trio before hovering above Bethlehem to<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishstar.com\/news\/us-news\/jesus-christ-clouds-phillipines-35461060\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> pinpoint the Christ child&#8217;s location.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">For centuries, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishstar.com\/all-about\/religion\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the Star of Bethlehem has fascinated believers and skeptics alike<\/a>, with many dismissing it as pure legend. But now a NASA researcher suggests the star may have been real\u2014<a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishstar.com\/news\/us-news\/nyc-catholic-converts-pope-leo-36282498\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">just not quite as traditional interpretations imagine.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishstar.com\/news\/politics\/furious-melania-trump-exploded-barrons-36371798\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36371798\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Furious Melania Trump exploded at Barron&#8217;s &#8216;betrayal&#8217; after private details of &#8216;sacred&#8217; life leaked<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishstar.com\/news\/politics\/donald-trump-inadvertently-disses-jd-36359177\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36359177\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Donald Trump inadvertently disses JD Vance during Tim Walz rant<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">Writing in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association, planetary expert Mark Matney points to a comet documented by Chinese stargazers in 5BC as a likely explanation.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Comet-C2025-A6-Lemmon-traveling-through-star-field.jpg\" alt=\"Comet C\/2025 A6 (Lemmon) traveling through star field\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Mr Matney says the star may have been a comet(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">Given that historical records place Jesus&#8217;s birth around 6BC or 5BC, the timeline appears to align. Additionally, Mr Matney&#8217;s analysis indicates the comet could have been visible during a June morning in 5BC, reports <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.express.co.uk\/news\/science\/2143961\/nasa-scientist-discovers-what-biblical\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the Express<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">Mr Matney noted that travelers heading south toward Bethlehem would have observed the comet appearing to move ahead of them in the sky.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">In his research, Mr Matney stated: &#8220;A comet candidate has been presented that can explain all aspects of Matthew&#8217;s pericope. A comet orbit can be constructed that both fits the Chinese observations and passed very close to Earth in early June.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">&#8220;On one particular June day, this comet could have moved in such a way as to appear to &#8216;go before&#8217; someone travelling from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and then &#8216;stop&#8217; nearly overhead for about two hours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">&#8220;This unusual comet motion would have occurred during daylight, when ancient people would normally travel&#8230;the candidate presented here corresponds to all aspects of both the Chinese observations and the descriptions of the Star in Matthew.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">For all the latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for our FREE newsletters <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishstar.com\/newsletter-preference-centre\/?utm_source=newslettersignupfooter\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">This isn&#8217;t the first occasion a scientist has applied scientific analysis to the life of Jesus. Earlier this year, British anthropologist Dr Paul Warner made the extraordinary claim that he had discovered Jesus&#8217; body and the Ark of the Covenant beneath the Great Pyramid of Egypt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">Presenting his findings to the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr Warner suggested that these ancient relics had been concealed within a double cave deep inside the pyramids.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">He went on to say that the artifacts could be located behind a stone block that seals off the subterranean chamber&#8217;s southern passageway, though additional investigation would be needed to verify his hypothesis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\" publication=\"irishstar\">For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.irishstar.com\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NASA planetary scientist Mark Matney has identified a 5BC comet as a potential candidate for the Star of&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":56204,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154,8039],"class_list":{"0":"post-56203","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bethlehem","8":"tag-bethlehem","9":"tag-bethlehem-headlines","10":"tag-bethlehem-news","11":"tag-science"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56203"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56203\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}