University of Notre Dame astrophysicist Grant Mathews will give two presentations this month of his popular program titled “What and When was the Christmas Star?” in the Digital Visualization Theatre of Notre Dame’s Jordan Hall of Science.
The programs, which are free and open to the public, will take place at 4 p.m. Dec. 12 (Saturday) and 3 p.m. Dec. 13 (Sunday).
The Gospel of Matthew records a peculiar astronomical event that occurred at the birth of Christ. Mathews has applied the tools of modern astrophysics to the search for evidence of this event. His program will examine whether the “Christmas Star” was a nova, a super-nova or a planet alignment and discuss the possible identity of the “wise men from the East.”
The public programs will be followed by a special video presentation of “A Season of Lights.”
Private groups also can schedule times during the week of Dec. 14 to18 to view Mathews’ presentation.
For more information, contact Susan Baxmeyer at 631-6387, or "baxmeyer.1@nd.edu":mailto:baxmeyer.1@nd.edu.