FLORENCE – Keeping with the yearly tradition, the University of North Alabama Planetarium will host the Mystery of the Christmas Star each evening at 7 p.m., Dec. 19-23, on UNA’s campus.
“There is an obvious connection between astronomy and the Christmas Star,” said Dr. Mel Blake, director of the UNA Planetarium and associate professor of Physics and Earth Science. “And there are several possible explanations. The leading one is an alignment of planets in Leo in the spring of 3 B.C. or 7 B.C. The Wise Men were probably Zoroastrian priests who combined astrology with other mystical aspects. The Zoroastrians were active in the region at that time and several of their other traditions are in common with Christianity,” he said.
Blake said the evening will consist of a special video show, followed by the normal sky tour, which shows what’s in the sky during the month of December.
The program is appropriate for all ages and cost is $3 per person.
For more information: https://www.una.edu/planetarium/
Media Release/Bryan Rachal, APR
Director, Communications and Marketing
Office of University Advancement
UNA
