Meetings and Events

December 2024 Meeting: 

The Bethlehem Star:  Could it have been the T-Corona Borealis Nova?

Presented by Greg Ouligian

The nature of what the Star of Bethlehem may have been has been a conundrum for centuries. Our perspective has changed over the past several decades as our understanding of astral events has grown. The development of star software has allowed us to go back in time and know with precision what the sky looked like near the beginning of the first millenium. Many of us have attended planetarium shows about ‘The Star’ in the past, which have not all been the same.

This month, our president Greg Ouligian will probe the many astronomical phenomena the Star of Bethlehem could have been. There will be many segues on the tour – toward the Biblical text, ancient calendars, the Magi, art – and eventually utilizing Stellarium to get 2000 year old views of the sky.

Greg has always been interested in the world of mathematics and science. While studying for a master’s degree in Engineering, he realized that his brain did not function in the necessary way, so he eventually morphed into an Emergency Physician, finally retiring eight years ago after practicing for 36 years. After moving to Grass Valley in 2009, he developed an interest in astronomy, eventually joining the Club where the many astute members serve as his ‘science fix’. He has been the reluctant club president for the past three years.

Spoiler alert: the answer to the question in the title is NO. But the waiting for the Tau nova has piqued our interest in the Bethlehem Star this holiday season.

 

** Note **

For the “Summer Season” (July and August) the NC Astronomers will be meeting on-line via Zoom. Club members will receive the keys to the Zoom conference in their email via Groups.io.

NC Astronomers Meets on the 1st Wednesday each month at 7pm in the
Madelyn Helling Library Community Room
980 Helling Way
Nevada City, CA 95959
(September – May)

** NC Astronomers “YouTube” channel **

Many of the presentations are recorded and posted to the club’s YouTube channel. Please see https://www.youtube.com/@ncastronomers9981/videos