Hi, this is Newt, do the virus I'm recording from home.

So you may notice a difference in audio quality.

On this episode of Newt's World, after a tough year of lockdowns and living through a global pandemic,

I think many of us are looking for a sign of hope.

And on December 21st, the world may get just the sign they're looking for in the night skies,

when Jupiter and Saturn come together to form a great light.

In the Bible, three wise men followed the Christmas star to baby Jesus, son of God, born in a

major. As a central role in the Christmas story, many people have debated whether the star

was a real physical object or just a symbol of the light Jesus would bring into the world.

When we look at science, it is entirely possible that the Christmas star was real.

My guest refers to the Christmas star by what it is in celestial astronomical terms,

the great conjunction. I'm pleased to welcome my guest, Dr. Henry Thru.

Dr. Thru for the program scientist in the planetary science division of NASA headquarters.

He focuses his research on the outer solar systems and co-discovered Pluto's moon sticks in 2012.

In 6 BC, the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus ordered that the whole world be taxed. In order to do so,

every citizen had to return to their ancestral villages.

Among the thousands of travelers returning home to pay taxes were the Virgin Mary and her husband Joseph.

Mary was pregnant, and on their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the Virgin Mary began delivering

the baby. The closest place to stop was an inn, but all the rooms were full, so they were sent out

to the manger where Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus, son of God. At the same time that Mary and

Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem, a bright star appeared in the night sky. According to tradition,

great celestial events signaled the rise of kings and gods' favor. Three wise men knew that

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