Star of Bethlehem found?

[Mike]

For nearly 2,000 years, it's been the one puzzle astronomers haven't been able to fully solve. But now, one Notre Dame professor thinks he may have discovered the origin of the star of Bethlehem.

Look at an artist's rendering of Jesus' birth and you can always find it.

Listen to songs like "We Three Kings" and it's clear.

The star of Bethlehem plays a pivotal role in the Christmas story.

Still, it's role in the Bible is fairly small. In fact, there's only one reference — in the Gospel of Matthew. "Where is he born the King of the Jews?" it reads. "For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."

But did that star really exist? If so, where was it? What was it? Why was it so bright?

They are questions Notre Dame Astrophysicist Dr. Grant Mathews began to ask about three years ago. And what he found took him by surprise.

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