No natural phenomenon could fulfill such a requirement. Any natural star moving that close to a physical structure would incinerate not only it, but also the entire earth, immediately. The only reasonable conclusion based on the facts presented above is to conclude that the star that announced the birth of Christ was, like the birth itself, supernatural. It is only a heart of unbelief that would try to concoct a natural explanation to these clearly supernatural events. Once we leave the realm of the natural, the explanation for the star of Bethlehem becomes relatively simple.
Scripture describes a phenomenon that matches in every way the events described above.
That phenomenon is the appearance of the glory of the Lord. In the Old Testament when the glory of the Lord appeared, it was a clear indication to Israel that God was present. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. . . . For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.