Many wonderful stories are shared during this festive time of year. Familiar characters like Charles Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge, Dr. Seuss' larcenous Grinch and Jean Shepherd's little Ralphie on his never-ending quest for a Red Ryder BB gun provide ample entertainment and, in some cases, important messages about compassion, kindness and remembering those who are less fortunate.

But the original Christmas story of the Nativity from the Gospel of Matthew offers a level of complexity and wonder that contemporary tales are hard pressed to match. After Jesus was born, he was visited by three wise men, the Magi, who were guided to him by mysterious and beautiful light — the Star of Bethlehem.

Over the years, scientists and scholars have sought to tie the Star of Bethlehem to a visible celestial event. Possible candidates include a supernova, a comet or a planetary conjunction. Ancient Chinese records from 5 B.C. mention a bright comet or nova that was visible for over 70 days. In 1614, Johannes Kepler calculated that planets Jupiter and Saturn displayed three conjunctions in 7 B.C. While the actual date of the nativity remains unknown, it is generally accepted to have occurred sometime between 3 B.C. and A.D. 1.

Recently, Australian astronomer Dave Reneke proposed that a pre-dawn conjunction of Venus and Jupiter might be the best explanation. In an alignment similar to what we witnessed between the planets and the Moon earlier this month, Venus and Jupiter formed a "beacon of light" in the eastern sky during June of 2 BC. The planets were so close together that they would have been seen as a single, brilliant point of light.

Others such as Michael R. Molnar, the author of The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi, believe that "trying to link the Star of Bethlehem to a sky spectacle is holiday folly." Molnar points out that "powerful evidence supports the idea that the Star of Bethlehem is based upon Roman-era astrology rather than an exceptionally bright astronomical event." So it is possible that an actual "star" was not visible. This idea could explain how King Herod was unaware of the Magi's star until it was reported to him.

Eager to get another perspective on the Star of Bethlehem, I took a few moments to visit with The Rev. Timothy Martinez of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. I asked him about the uncertainty surrounding the Star of Bethlehem. He agreed an actual star may not have been visible, but the light that guided the Magi was based upon their collective belief in the beauty, nature and faith that the birth of Jesus had occurred. When asked about date inconsistencies, Martinez stated that "the date is not as important as the encounter." The gold, frankincense and myrrh presented as gifts by the Magi were symbolic of the priesthood, sacrifice and dominion of the baby Jesus.

The actual nature of the Star of Bethlehem and what it represents will likely continue to be enshrouded in mystery as it has been for thousands of years. When it comes to true matters of faith, being able to live in the question is often more rewarding than knowing the answer. For those seeking a more pragmatic explanation for the Star of Bethlehem, walk out in the twilight this evening and look to the west. Our sister planet Venus will be visible, serving as something of a 'stand-in' for the Christmas star.

Peter Lipscomb is director of the Night Sky Program for the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance. Contact him at plipscomb@nmheritage.org.