But a comet is a good bet. The ancients called practically everything they saw in the night sky a star. We now know that comets are nothing but large chunks of ice and dust that normally inhabit the outer reaches of our solar system. When they occasionally are drawn near the sun, its heat changes some of the ice into a mist that streams away from the sun as a glorious tail that can stretch halfway across the sky. Our ancient ancestors generally saw the sky as unchanging and predictable.
Comets often move quickly against the starry background.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. As the night sky fades on Christmas morning, you can stay and watch the sunrise. The end of the dark night and the beginning of the day has always been a symbol of hope, even in the darkest times. This Christmas we celebrate a time of new hope, when our dark fears of nuclear conflict may finally end with the rising sun of freedom in Eastern Europe. These indeed are glad tidings.