ISRAEL: JUPITER AND VENUS LINE UP AND SHINE BRIGHTER THAN ANY STAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE PHENOMENON THAT TAKES PLACE ONCE EVERY 2,000 YEARS

Record ID: 399146

  • Title: ISRAEL: JUPITER AND VENUS LINE UP AND SHINE BRIGHTER THAN ANY STAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE PHENOMENON THAT TAKES PLACE ONCE EVERY 2,000 YEARS
  • Date: 24th February 1999
  • Summary: BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (FEBRUARY 23, 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV EXTERIOR CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY 0.05 2. PAN FROM SKY TO MANGER'S SQUARE 0.13 GIVATAIM, ISRAEL (FEBRUARY 23, 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 3. MCU ASTRONOMER YIGAL PAT-EL AT TELESCOPE 0.18 4. LV TWO PLANETS 0.20 5. MCU CHILD LOOKING THROUGH CONE 0.22
  • Embargoed: 11th March 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK / GIVATAIM, ISRAEL
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVA9KNMFDAF9K0MJN7P3H72CP97K
  • Story Text: Two thousand years ago, a "star" shined in the skies of
    Bethlehem, beckoning the three wise men to the birthplace of
    Jesus.Astronomers claim that star shone again on Tuesday,
    caused by a planetary phenomenom happening for the first time
    since that ancient time.

    Jupiter and Venus lined up and shone brighter than any
    star or fellow planets in the Middle Eastern sky on Tuesday
    (February 23).

    The phenomenon takes place in this region once every 2,000
    years.The last time the famous meeting took place was 1 AD.

    Astronomers claim the last configuration occured over
    Bethlehem around the time of the recorded birth of Jesus.It
    could even be that this was the star over Bethlehem that drew
    the wise men to the stable where Jesus was born.

    The unusual line up of the two planets occurs when their
    orbit of the sun appears to put them side by side in the sky.

    Jupiter is 700 million kilometers away from planet Earth, and
    Venus is only 200 million kilometers away.But when Venus
    passes between Earth and Jupiter it seems as if Venus and
    Jupiter meet.

    Christians, Jews and Muslims alike gathered across Israel
    and the West Bank to watch the spectacle, which could be seen
    clearly with the naked eye.


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