On Christmas Day... 1758

On Christmas Day, 1758, Johann Georg Palitzch spotted a comet who's return had been predicted by astronomer Edmond Haley. After observing the comet in 1682 Haley calculated it's return based on his theory that comets revolve around the sun in an orbit, just as the planets do. The comet has come to be known as Haley's Comet and, on average, returns to the Earth's night sky every 77 years. Some people believe that the Star of Bethlehem, harbinger of the Holy Birth of Jesus, was actually Haley's Comet! This would have been a spectacle that no one alive had seen, 77 or so years earlier. Surely, this would seem like a sign from God. Of course, astronomers have calculated that Haley's Comet would have been seen over Earth in 9 b.c.

What do you think? Was the Star of Bethlehem actually Haley's Comet?

Comments

[Danatello]

Thanks Amy. This is just one of the many theories about the Star Of Bethlehem. Other theories talk about alignments of planets and the like, none of which, to me, seem very awe inspiring. Something really wowed people, who knows maybe it was something beyond our realm.

[Amy]

That posting about Haley's Comet sounds like heathen talk to me! Outright blasphemy - *hmf*

[Amy]

Did you know that gaspacho was first created with the Christmas spirit in mind? Christmas Gaspacho... gotta love it! it sure does stick with you throughout the day.