Overview
- Mark Matney’s study in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association proposes that a comet seen in 5 BCE matches the biblical description.
- Chinese Han‑dynasty notes of a “broom star” visible for more than 70 days underpin his reconstruction of the object’s path.
- Modeling suggests the comet passed about 390,000 kilometers from Earth on June 8, 5 BCE, creating a geosynchronous‑like pause for observers.
- The analysis argues the object could have appeared to stand nearly over Bethlehem for roughly two hours to travelers coming from Jerusalem.
- Matney stresses the identification is tentative as sources are sparse, while experts highlight competing explanations including planetary conjunctions and an astrological reading of the text.