Astronomy Ireland has been inundated with calls from people who believe that they have seen the Christmas Star.

Several callers have contacted the astronomy club to ask if a bright star -- which is blazing in the Southern skies -- is a return of the star that is believed to have guided Wise Men to Bethlehem.

However, Astronomy Ireland chairman David Moore has explained that this vivid star, which is visible at sunset, is in fact the planet Venus.

"The Star of Bethlehem was Jupiter and Saturn in seven BC," he stated.

Astronomers have been able to trace the exact date of the birth of Christ and believe it to be the 15 September, seven BC.

Mr Moore explained that Jupiter and Saturn appeared very close together in the constellation of Pisces at this time. The Wise Men, who were astrologers, watched for signs in the sky at the time and made a reading of what they believed the stars stood for.

"Pisces stood for rebirth, Jupiter signalled a king and Saturn was a planet which was associated with the Jews," Mr Moore said.

Solstice

It is believed that the Christian church decided to date the birth of Christ around the same time as the pagan festival of the winter solstice.

Astronomy Ireland said that people should still look out for the planet, which will rise higher over the horizon over the next couple of weeks.

"Venus is equally spectacular this Christmas and it won't be this good again for eight years," he said.

Astronomy Ireland also said that free viewings will be set up at its Telescope Shop in Butterly Business Park in Artane at 4.30pm every day until Christmas Eve.

The association will be holding events throughout the next year during the United Nations International Year of Astronomy.

To mark the beginning of the year, the society had viewings of the winter solstice on Sunday in Newgrange and at standing stones in a park in Dalkey.

"There is a great interest in astronomy in Ireland," said Mr Moore. "Newgrange is the oldest astrological building of its kind, so it would be fair to say that Ireland invented astronomy.

"We want to make the general public aware that we are all made from stars. Material in our bodies came from an explosion of stars before the earth was formed."

- Claire Murphy