Epiphany and astronomy

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. In the Church’s calendar, this is the day on which we celebrate the visit of the magi (wise men) to the infant Jesus. Anyone who has attended a church or school nativity play will be familiar with the story of the three wise men who, following a star, came from the east to bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. The star is a key player in this narrative, and many have wondered to what, exactly, the ‘star of Bethlehem’ refers.