Astronomers expected a celestial sign, like a comet, during the planetary conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the “Fiery Trigon” of 1604. Astronomers watched intently. On Oct 9, 1604, Kepler’s Supernova exploded.


SN 1604

It outshone Jupiter and Sirius, rivaling Venus as the sky’s 3rd-brightest object. Visible during the day for weeks and to the naked eye for 18 months, it was a miraculous “new star”. Today's science claims: it was all a coincidence. Those old-timers just got "lucky".

They would probably say the same about the star of Bethlehem that signaled the birth of mankind's Savior. Wise men were expecting the star, and then it appeared, signaling the birth of Jesus.

Matthew 2:1-3 KJV | Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Kepler believed the alignment of the planets and the corresponding celestial event was divinely orchestrated, not random.