St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-06
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
This is the Year Fixed Upon For
Its Reappe arance.

This is the Year Fixed Upon For
Its Reappe arance.
+. For ten years the eyes Of astronomers
have been turned toward Cassiopeia,
one of the circumpolar consultations
in the hope of discovering there the
star of Bethlehem. about which SO
much has been written. 1t will appear
again this year, if calculations are
correct. Lovers of the marvellous have
read with eagerness everything relating
to this wonderful celestial visitor, which
is. said to have appeared only six times
since the birth of Christ, when it guided
the wise men on their journey from the
East; and many persons unfamiliar with
astronomy have been led to dip into the
lore treasured by students OF the
heavens. Astronomers are expecting
the star now. and would not be sur
priSed if it should burst into sight from
the darkness of space at any time.
3 In 1872 Tycho Brahe saw the star for
which many are now looking. He says
in his description of the discovery:
Raising my eyes as usual during one
of my walks, to the we'll known vault
of heaven, | observed, with indescrib-
able aStOniShmant. near the zenith in
CasSiopeia, a radiant fixed star of mag
nitude never before seen. In my
amaZementI doubted the evidence of my
fsenSeS. However, to convince myself
that it was no illusion, and to have the
/ testimony of others, summoned my
assistants from the laboratory and in
quired of them and of all the country
people that passed by if they also oh.
served the star that had thus suddenly
burst forth.''
The astronomer pr0nOunces the star
brighter than Sirius, Vega or Jupiter,
and compares its radiance with the
splendor of Venus when nearest the
earth. In few weeks the orb began to
decline, and in sixteen months it became
Invisible to the naked eye. AS the
/ telescope was not invented till seven
teen years later, its subsequent career
could not be followed. lii its waning
its hue changed from white to yellow
and red, and lastly became white. Its
place in CasSiopeia is clearly marked by
Il faint star.
Tycho Brahe's discovery gave rise to
all the discussion about the star OF Beth
lehem. In 945 and 1864 brilliant new OF
temporary stars had appeared, accord
ing to tradition, and, roughly calculat-
ing it's period of 800 years or Whereabouts,
CardamuS concluded that Brahe'S star
was the orb which the Magi saw and
Identical with those of 945 and 1854.
From 1864 to 1872 is 30S years, and from
945 to 1864 is 319 years. Ii the greatest
period is used in a calculation regarding
the next appearance OF the star 1t should
be visible in 1891. Scientific men say
that there is probability of its re-
appearance during the latter part of the
century. but only a prObaDility,a as the evil
dence of its having appeared in 945 and
1864 is unreliable, resting on the state
ments of Bohemian astrOlOger, Cyp-
rian LeOwitZ.
But even if Tycho Brahe's star is one
with periods of about 800 years, there is
no scientific propriety in calling 1t the
star of Bethlehem, as no star known to
astronomers could have appeared and
disappeared in accordance with the Bib
lical account of the star of Bethlehem.
1t has been supposed by some that
the star of Coma Berenlces, another
temporary orb, was the Star OF the Magi.
1t appeared shortly before the birth of
Christ and was visible by day. 1t is
spoken of by Ptolemv and Hipparchus,
and Ignatius says its brilllancy was
above that of all the other stars. Chi
nese records speak of new and brill
liant star about this time.
The star of Bethlehem has been
thought to be a conjunction of three
planets that might have taken place
Shortly before the Savior's birth. KEEP
pier believed the appearance due to a
conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. and
IdeIer's ''Handbuch der Chronologie''
stated that to weak eyes the two planets
would have appeared as single strar.
In the year 3. c. there were three
conjunctions, occurring III May, Septem-
Der and December. and it is pointed
out that if the Magi had set out from
some distant place in the East in May
they would have seen the two planets
gradually separate, then approach IN
early September and once more Sepa-
rate; till on the arrival in Jerusalem in
December they would be in conjunc-
/ ton again. Astronomers in New
York doubt the appearance this year Of
tha star Of Rpthlehpm