The idea of tying the account of Matthew to an actual astronomical event is a perennial. I remember as a kid the local planetarium running a Christmas show of w

The idea of tying the account of Matthew to an actual astronomical event is a perennial. I remember as a kid the local planetarium running a Christmas show of what the skies would look like for the closest remarkable events. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehem#Astronomical_object http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehem#Astronomical_... has more on the idea.