Christmas star as planetary conjunction. Artwork of a possible Christmas Star of the year 7 BC. The planets Saturn (lower right) and Jupiter are formi

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Christmas star as planetary conjunction. Artwork of a possible Christmas Star of the year 7 BC. The planets Saturn (lower right) and Jupiter are forming a line with Earth (upper centre). As seen in the night sky from Earth, this would appear as a planetary conjunction in the constellation Pisces. There were several conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 BC within a period of 8 months. It is thought that Jesus was born at around this time, and that this planetary conjunction may account for the Christian biblical story of three wise men following a star to find the infant Christ.

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Size: 5433px × 3586px
Photo credit: © DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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