Bethlehem Star meteor theory aired

LONDON, England -- The Star of Bethlehem -- which the Bible says guided the Wise Men to the birth of Jesus -- was probably a meteor shower, a prominent astronomer says.

According to a new book by British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, the bright light seen over the Middle East and said to have identified Christ's birthplace, could only have been shooting stars.

Sir Patrick, 78, has investigated the story of a star guiding three wise men from the East to the village in Judaea, where they presented Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

"Nobody really knows whether there really was a star and it may just be a story," he told the UK's Press Association news agency after examining the scientific evidence.

"This light must have been something which was temporary, spectacular and only seen by a few people -- or even King Herod would have known where to look.

"The only thing that fits the bill would be a few shooting stars or a meteor shower across the sky," he said.

Previous theories have included a star exploding or a planetary conjunction.

Sir Patrick said: "Had it been a bright nova everyone would have seen and it would have been recorded by lots of people.

"In a planetary conjunction two planets move and become very close together which can cause a bright light.

"But if the three wise men were fooled into thinking a planet like Venus was a star they would not have been very wise."