Is the Christmas Star linked to the birth of Jesus Christ?

A presentation at the planetarium at Notre Dame’s Jordan Hall of Science aimed to explore that possibility this past week. Attendees took to the skies while Professor of Physics Grant Matthews took attendees to the skies.

Matthews focused on the constellation Aquila at first because historians think the Christmas Star could have been a supernova in this constellation. However, Matthews told ABC 57 he thinks that would be unlikely since supernova events are usually associated with harsher times.

Matthews tends to agree with most modern astrophysicists think the answer lies with the constellation Aries and the planet Jupiter. Not only did Jupiter hang out in the constellation during the time Jesus was born, but astrophysicists say Aries ruled over the lands of Judea, where Christ is believed to have been born.

In the end, while Matthews agrees that the signs are there that Jupiter and Aries served as the link between the Christmas Star and the birth of Jesus, there are other theories that scientists continue to explore that must be proven or disproven.