The Christmas Star via Zoom

This program will explore what is, perhaps, the most famous astronomical event in all history:  the Star of Bethlehem.  What occurred in the skies of that time which might have lived on through the centuries as the Christmas Star?  Was it a supernatural phenomenon, or was it a natural astronomical occurrence; a function of the inexorable laws of physics, appearing in the night skies at the time of the Nazarene’s birth?  Modern astronomy has an explanation – or rather, several possible explanations.  In this lecture, Joe Rao, an Associate and guest lecturer at New York’s Hayden Planetarium, explores the many fascinating possibilities.  Could it have been a dazzling fireball meteor?  A spectacular comet?  An exploding star or nova?  Or perhaps a rare and unusual configuration of the planets?  All the evidence of history and modern astronomy is woven into the answer to create a different kind of Christmas story . . . just in time for the holiday season.  Registration begins October 20 via the library’s Web site.  The Zoom invitation will be sent out one day prior to the program.

Note:  This program is co-hosted with Bedford Hills Free Library, Somers Public Library, and Hendrick Hudson Free Library.