Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Who came up with the shape of the star of bethlehem?

i'm only curious about this particular representation of a star because the hubble pictures reveal some stars to be shaped this way. i don't think it has anything to do with the camera lens because i'm pretty sure the star of bethlehem shape was devised before cameras were invented.

Who came up with the shape of the star of bethlehem?
Okay, I *think* you are referring to the typical way it is drawn? Long points up, down, to the side, and shorter points from the diagonals?





When you look at twinkling stars they seem multi-pointed due to atmospheric turbulence. Stars have been drawn as + and x and * for centuries because of this. The eight pointed star that is typically drawn for the star (with the lowest point often being twice as long as the others) was probably made common for the star in the middle ages.





The effect you mentioned in regards to photographs of stars is due to the shape of the lens.





All this said, I tend to think that the similarity of the shape of drawn stars (with points, due to the visual twinkling effect created by air turbulence) to some photographs of stars (with points due to the brightness and the shape of the lens) is mostly coincidental.





Sorry I can't supply a better answer.
Reply:My guess... God?
Reply:God.
Reply:Hubble pictures show weird shaped stars? I think it is because the Hubble telescope (and most big telescopes) have rods inside them to hold their shape. These are called "spider" rods. The star light reflecting off these rods, or being blocked by them, causes the image of the star to show a diffraction pattern. See section 3.6 in the source below.
Reply:The Bible doesn't say, or even imply, what the star looked like, only that it was amazing enough above normal astronomical objects for them to take notice and even try to travel to it.





Everything in the western sky should set, and the Star of Bethlehem didn't move, so that must've gotten their attention..





A star that bright would bedazzle the eye so much that you can't make out the center and just see alotof adamant points.





To say stuff like star 'X' has exactly 8 points and not 9 while star Y has 3 is absolutely ridiculous though. That's like saying this is a "39-sparkle mirror" and that the sparkles can be counted.





The star has 8 points probably because it's symmetric and looks nice. Stylized representation.








In the hubble pictures and many others the points are much simpler, it's just the arms that are holding up the mirror that you have to look through. They try to make them thinner so they don't obstruct too much but the four of them still make the shape of a +
Reply:Some one on jesus frog dope drew it.
Reply:CULTURES INDEPENDENTLY DEVELOPED THE STAR.

Toothache

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