Using astronomy software and an article written by astronomer Craig Chester and based on the work of Ernest Martin, Larson thinks all 9 characteristics of the star of Bethlehem are found in the events in the skies of 3-2 B.C. Highlights include a triple conjunction of Jupiter, called the King planet with the fixed star Regulus called the King star, starting in 3 B.C. Larson believes that may have been the time of Jesus conception. By June 2 B.C., nine months later, the human conception period, Jupiter had continued in its orbit around the sun and appeared in close conjunction to Venus in 2 B.C. In Hebrew Jupiter is called “Sedeq”, meaning “righteousness” a term used for the Messiah, and suggested that because the planet Venus represents love and fertility Chester believes astrologers would have viewed this as indicators of a coming new King of Israel and Herod would taken this seriously! Astronomer David Reneke independently found that in 2 B.C. planetary conjunction would have appeared as a “bright beacon of light.” Jupiter next continued to move and then stopped in its apparent retrograde motion on December 25th of 2 B.C. over the town of Bethlehem! Since planets in their orbits have a “stationary point”, a planet moves eastward through the stars but after passes the opposite point in the sky from the sun, it appears to slow, come to a full stop and moves backward(westward) for some weeks. Again it slows, stops and resumes its eastward course. The date December 25th that Jupiter appeared to stop while in retrograde took place in the season of Hanukkah and that date later was chosen to celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com