Was the Star of Bethlehem a Comet?

As early as AD 248, Origen suggested that the star of Bethlehem was a comet—and there continue to be astronomers who think that he was right. Comets are icy objects that orbit the sun. When seen from earth they appear as a star in the sky that moves over the course of several nights against the background “fixed” stars. Their characteristic “tail” is a cloud of gas and dust blown away by radiation and solar wind.

Ancient astronomers (astrologers, really) thought they were very significant and often recorded their appearance. The fact…