[abandon]

I've heard on and off that one theory is that the Star was a triple conjunction of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation Pisces in or around 4 B.C.

[TheCPA]

The Bible uses the word "star" as a symbol for an angel. Therefore, the star that appeared near the birth of Christ might well have been an angel.

[David]

I agree with the tone of all three of you--God certainly had the power to provide any kind of celestial help He thought appropriate to guide the wise men. And I also see the clearest way to reconcile the birth naratives as assuming that the wise men showed up a year or so after the birth.

On the other hand, what is interesting about this story is that in my view, the actual birth date was in May of 6 BC.