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Show Bethlehem's Star Puzzle Scientists Theories Are Advanced for Celestial Guide. What was the "Star of Bethlehem" that bazed in a midnight sky and 1 led the Three Wise Men to the Christ Child's humble bed in a stable outside out-side Jerusalem? Science does not know. There is no such star now and all the evidence evi-dence astronomers have been able to assemble throws no actual light on the subject. However, Miss Maude Bennot, director of the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, says astronomers "do not refute" the story of solemn beauty and simplicity which has endured 2,000 years: "... and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was." St Matthew. The "Star of Bethlehem" has intrigued in-trigued students of infinite space for fnany centuries. Many Theories Advanced. Miss Bennot said: "Astronomers cannot be accused of not trying to solve the problem the story presents. But all efforts have failed to reveal the 'Star of Bethlehem' was an actual star. "In the first place, stars do not 'stand still.' They appear to make a processional nightly across the heavens. But of course it is the earth which is moving." Among the many theories to account ac-count for the "Star of Bethlehem" is that of a German named Edeler who announced after years of study that the Star was in his opinion, actually actu-ally the conjunction of two bright planets moving in the same direction, direc-tion, creating one very brilliant image. , May Have Been 'Nova.' Miss Bennot said: "It also might have been a "nova," or new star. They shine with great brilliance for a few days, then vanish. van-ish. "There was conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn about December 15 in 7 B. C, and since the exact year of Christ's birth is a matter of dispute, that may have been what the Three Wise Men saw. "Another possibility is that it was Halley's comet which reaches its zenith about December 25 over Bethlehem." Beth-lehem." Miss Bennot believes that the brightest of all planets, Venus, which is seen as a star, most nearly fulfills ful-fills the Wise Men's description of their celestial guide to the humble birthplace of Christ. Just Star Gazing. She said: "It always is near the sun. It is seen only in the early morning, and now rises about three hours ahead of the sun in the east, of course. Many who see it may believe they are gazing upon the 'Star of Bethlehem.' Bethle-hem.' " The brightest of all stars, Sirius, now is visible crossing the sky most of the night, and many also may j take that for the holy star, Miss Bennot said. She concluded: "It appears foolish to try to authenticate au-thenticate the story scientifically." |