Christmas Star 2024: When To Show Your Kids The ‘Star Of Bethlehem’ Tonight

What’s the bright star in the east — and west? This week, three bright planets are making that case to be this year's “Star of Bethlehem” or “Christmas Star,” with Jupiter, Mars and Venus all shining brightly.

Christmas Star: What Is The Star Of Bethlehem

The legend of a bright star that rose after the birth of Jesus Christ — that the wise men then followed to find him — is found in the Gospel of Matthew. Although it could easily be an apocryphal story, it's one that has had astronomers scratching their heads about for centuries. Although some have posited that it may have been a comet (Halley's comet blasted through the solar system in 12 B.C.) or a supernova (a distant star exploding and becoming visible in daylight for a few weeks), there's a decent chance it was either Venus — the brightest planet — or a conjunction of two planets.

Although the recent comet has dimmed, and there's no sign of a supernova, Venus shines very brightly. So are Jupiter and Mars, while in a few short weeks, Venus and Saturn will "kiss" in the post-sunset sky.

Christmas Star: How And When To See Venus

Look to the west; as soon as it gets dark, you will see Venus, with clear skies allowing. It's currently shining as the “Evening Star” at -4.1 mag. It’s currently getting close to Earth, something it does every 19 months, and on Feb. 16, 2025, it will reach its brightest in the evening sky at -4.5 mag. It will then sink quickly into the sun's glare, emerging in April as the bright "Morning Star." On Apr. 22, 2025, Venus will reach its brightest in the morning sky at -4.2 mag.

Could Venus have been the “Star of Bethlehem?" As if to provide more evidence, on Jan. 18, 2025, Saturn and Venus will shine close to each other in the west.

Christmas Star: How And When To See Jupiter

Jupiter is the bright star in the east you've probably noticed in recent weeks. It's been rising higher into the sky and, on Dec. 7, reached opposition — its closest position to Earth and, therefore, the biggest and brightest it gets for the year. So this month — and for much of January — Jupiter will be visible all night and highest in the sky just after midnight. Now shining at -2.7 mag. Jupiter could easily have been the "Star of Bethlehem."

Christmas Star: How And When To See Mars

Look east about two hours after sunset this month, and you'll see the golden light of Mars rising below Jupiter. However, it's shining at only -0.8 mag. It can and will get brighter. On Jan. 12, 2025, it will make its closest approach to Earth since 2022 and enter its annual opposition three days later, shining at -1.4 mag. That's probably not bright enough for Mars to be considered as a potential "Star of Bethlehem," though golden light when it gets close to opposition provides an argument.