The Wise Men of the nativity followed a star to find Jesus. The term Wise Men is found scattered around the Bible to denote those with mystical knowledge. The alternative term used for them, Magi, is a term used for Persian Astrologers of that period. (Zoroastrian sect.)

The basic assumption is that they saw an event that would only occur once in a millennium or possibly longer. It is also assumed that the event was interpreted according to modern day astrology.

While there are undoubted differences in interpretation by astrologers, there is much common ground. Venus is associated with fertility and Jupiter with royalty. The royal constellation is/ was Leo and Regulus the royal star.

Whatever the Wise Men saw, it had to be exceptional and had to be within a context which would cause them to associate it with the birth of a king. Thus a Nova in Capricorn or Comet unrelated to any of the above seem unlikely candidates.

Aspects that satisfy a Royal connections are:-

Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in Leo (4’.3)               12 Aug 3 BC
(Close to Regulus - Conception ?)

Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in Leo (0’.4)               17 June 2 BC

Jupiter, Moon & Regulus fairly close                               9 May 2 BC

14 Sept 3 BC

17 Feb 2 BC

Aug 27 2BC

Dec 28 3 BC - Planetry configuration resembling the Star of David

Tests on the data were run between 10 BC and 10 AD and based on physical proximity. If, as is the practice with modern astrology, the celestial sphere is treated as flat then conjunctions occur much more frequently and the bodies will be perfectly in line much (far) too frequently.

Conjunctions between Jupiter and Venus for 3,000 BC to 3,000 AD;
       Conjunctions less than 1’ occurred on average every 66.7 years

Conjunctions less than 5’ occurred on average every 15.5 years

If the conjunctions are confined to a particular constellation then the averages become 800 and 186 years. (2000 years for it to occur in Leo and for the Planets to merge = < 0’.4 separation.)

Jupiter Remaining in Leo or any other Constellation

Jupiter reverses its track through the heavens for four months out of every thirteen as the faster moving Earth overtakes it. It then takes 12 years to orbit the Sun which means that it will stop in each constellation.

Sidereal Vs Tropical Astrology

Fortunately, the divergence between astrology based on the seasons (Tropical/ Western approach) and that based on the Sun’s position relative to the stars (Sidereal/ Indian approach,) did not occur until relatively close to the Birth of Jesus..