SPACE
Christmas Star
TV: 1 x 50’ DVD: 50 minutes
Seasonal special. The mystery of the Star of Bethlehem – solved!
What was the Star of Bethlehem? What guided the Magi, the Three Wise Men from the East, to the birthplace of Christ? Was it a comet, a supernova, a conjunction of the planets, or a supernatural event with no scientific explanation? A fascinating investigation – an astronomical detective story, made on location in the Holy Land with planetary scientist Dr David Hughes.
The clues are carefully sifted. When was Christ born? Surprisingly, not in the year 1AD! Why did the Magi understand so well the movements of the sky, when the Jews – who failed to recognise the star – have little comprehension of the planets, the stars and their constellations? Was the heavenly host, witnessed by the shepherds of Bethlehem, a rare sighting of the aurora borealis?
In the search for a scientific explanation, the documentary analyses a raft of phenomena and ancient records including fireballs, exploding stars and the observations of ancient Chinese and Babylonian astronomers. Together with hints from the Gospel of St Matthew, this gentle seasonal documentary provides an intriguing answer.
CHRISTMAS STAR, in which science and religion are at one, is narrated by Martin Jarvis.
