Searching for the Star of Bethlehem

Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar, "Three Wise Men," were among the first to visit the baby Jesus. According to the nativity story, the men from the east followed a star to find him. Although it has not been scientifically proven that the Star of Bethlehem did indeed exist, one thing is certain: 2,000 years ago, it was much easier to see the stars than it is today.

Since the 12th century, the supposed remains of the Three Kings have been kept in a shrine - one of the biggest and most precious of its kind - in the Cologne Cathedral. But what would happen if the Wise Men once again wanted to follow a star on the horizon? Nowadays, they would likely have problems …

Here is what the kings would first see: The illuminated Cologne skyline. But with all those lights, it would be hard to make out the stars. According to the Dark Sky Association, in large cities, only 200-500 stars are visible to the naked eye. But in earlier times, people could see up to 2,500. How could the Biblical Magi navigate by the stars under such conditions?

The best advice for the Three Kings would be to leave the city. But even in the European countryside, there's so much light that there is still no guarantee they would be able to see the stars. This high amount of light affects ecosystems, and impairs the biological rhythm of both humans and animals. Scientists call the phenomenon light pollution.

The sky looks very different today than it did 2,000 years ago, so it would be hard for the Three Kings to navigate. Many Europeans say they can't see the Milky Way, for example, even when the sky is clear. One out of three Germans say they have never seen the Milky Way.

Let's assume the Three Kings were able to find the Star of Bethlehem and made it to Israel. Then what? That region is also brightly illuminated. This picture also shows the River Nile in neighboring Egypt, where more than 95 percent of all the country's inhabitants live.

And here it is: The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. According to the Bible, the Star of Bethlehem led the Magi here. But back then, there was probably much less light brightening the square at night. Also the Christmas tradition of decorating houses and streets with lights has added to light pollution.

Finally, the Star of Bethlehem: It's on display in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. Whether the star really existed is not really known. Some researchers argue that the celestial phenomenon of 2,000 years ago could have been a comet. Others say it might have been a supernova, or a planetary conjunction. It appears the secret may have been lain to rest with the Three Wise Men.