# Do three stars align with the sunrise on the winter solstice? Need answer fast **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-three-stars-align-with-the-sunrise-on-the-winter-solstice-need-answer-fast/845198 "2019-12-21T21:04:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2019, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-three-stars-align-with-the-sunrise-on-the-winter-solstice-need-answer-fast/845198/41 "2019-12-28T22:16:56Z")
> [@eburacum45](#): > > The software I use compensates for the procession of the equinoxes, but I didn’t allow for the three or four days change in the calendar. That would be a trivial consideration, however. > > Much more important is determining which year Jesus was born in- has anybody got a clue? [Many clues, all inconsistent.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_of_birth_of_Jesus) > [@](#): > > The date of birth of Jesus is not stated in the gospels or in any historical reference, but most theologians assume a year of birth between 6 BC and 1 BC.[1] The historical evidence is too incomplete to allow a definitive dating,[2] but the year is estimated through two different approaches—one by analyzing references to known historical events mentioned in the nativity accounts in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, and the second by working backward from the estimation of the start of the ministry of Jesus.[3][4] The day or season has been estimated by various methods, including the description of shepherds watching over their sheep.[5] This assumes that Yeshua bir Miryam “actually” existed in our observable reality in a timeline that somehow accords with censuses and slaughters unrecorded elsewhere. IOW pick whatever date you want. And I recently read (sorry, can’t find the cite) an analysis of the Magi’s “star” as being an astrological aspect, not an astronomical event. Pick an astrology system and chart your aspects, no problem! ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-three-stars-align-with-the-sunrise-on-the-winter-solstice-need-answer-fast/845198/42 "2019-12-30T17:50:47Z")
Perhaps this is common knowledge in the commentaries in this thread and citations, but in Rabbinic Judaism–ie, post Roman, but no doubt in the calendric system critical to a functional Temple authority–evening (ie, the next day) begins only when three stars are visible. As to that fact in regard to this thread, I have no idea. Just putting it out there. ETA: Indeed, from this determination is the reason that Passover, outside the Holy Land (still followed today, modern Israel) is celebrated for two days, with the reasoning that the determination would be suspect over greater distances, and for the Jews in the Diaspora it’s safer to cover your bets. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-three-stars-align-with-the-sunrise-on-the-winter-solstice-need-answer-fast/845198/43 "2020-01-03T02:36:20Z")
From last week, coincidently enough: [\*\* Scholars Now Believe Jesus Ignored Magi’s Gifts, Just Played With The Boxes They Came In\*\*](https://babylonbee.com/news/biblical-scholars-claim-jesus-ignored-gold-frankincense-myrrh-just-played-with-the-boxes-they-came-in) […] The toddler Jesus reportedly tossed aside the valuable gifts and started playing with the containers. He turned the box the gold came in into a pretend spaceship, making “pew pew pew” noises for hours. Later on, he tired of that and grabbed the myrrh box, wearing it on his head all afternoon and running around the house cackling like a madman… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-three-stars-align-with-the-sunrise-on-the-winter-solstice-need-answer-fast/845198/44 "2020-01-03T12:36:38Z")
I’ve heard a theory that the three stars in the “belt” of Orion were thought to represent the Three Kings. I’m not aware of any documentary support for this, though. These stars also don’t fit the idea as stated in the OP. At the time of the solstice Orion is prominent in the early evening sky, not at sunrise. The theory might almost work if you wanted to see the three stars at sunset. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-three-stars-align-with-the-sunrise-on-the-winter-solstice-need-answer-fast/845198/45 "2020-01-03T15:17:26Z")
After He tired of playing spaceship with the gold box, did it the fly away to the Moon and return? That’s the sort of thing, we’re told, that tended to happen to Jesus’s toys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-three-stars-align-with-the-sunrise-on-the-winter-solstice-need-answer-fast/845198.md?page=2)