"Star of wonder", introducing the Bethlehem Star
"We beheld (it is no fable)", the testimony of Matthew's Gospel
"They looked up and saw a star", the story of the Star
"What star is this?", evaluating the major hypotheses
"What sudden radiance from afar?", introducing comets
"A stranger midst the orbs of light", the star as a comet
"Yon virgin, mother and child", the celestial wonder
"With royal beauty bright", Messiah's star
"Lo, the star appeareth", profiling the comet
"Following yonder star", tracking the comet
"Brightest and best of the sons of the morning", the greatest historical comet
"The light everlasting that fades not away", the ongoing story
Appendix 1: the Chinese comet records
Appendix 2: the meteor storm of 6 BC.