Is the story about the Star in the East true? And, if so, what exactly was the 'star'? While Sir Patrick cannot give a definitive answer, in The Star of Bethlehem he looks at various astronomical theories and comes up with a possible answer of his own. Who has not heard of the Star in the East? It is one of the most famous stories in the Bible, and tells us how the Wise Men came to Bethlehem to seek out the infant Jesus; they were guided by a brilliant star, which 'went before them' and stopped over the place where the child lay. Though all this happened two thousand years ago, the fascination of the Star of Bethlehem is a great as ever. This book presents the astronomical candidates in detail. Was it a star, a planet or planets, a comet, a nova or a supernova, or a shooting star? Unique artwork shows precisely how the sky would have appeared from Jerusalem at that time, so readers can assess for themselves which astronomical phenomena are likely solutions to the puzzle. Everyone who has wondered about this part of the nativity will enjoy Sir Patrick's honest and engaging account.