Starry, starry night: a history of astronomy in art

When the weather outside is frightful, Jonathan Jones looks to art rather than the night sky to follow the three kings’ Christmas star – with curious results

This is the season for stargazing. In December and January, the winter skies are cold and – sometimes – clear. A cloudless night reveals a bright canopy of stars, so it is the perfect time to get out your telescope or binoculars.

It also happens to be the time when astronomy is celebrated in the Christmas story. The magi, three wise men from Persia, followed a star to Bethlehem. What star was it? A comet? A meteor? I have no idea. Instead, I have been trying to follow their star through art, with some curious results.

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