Many Christians see the star as a miraculous sign to mark the birth of the messiah. Some theologians claimed that the star fulfilled a prophecy, known as the Star Prophecy. In modern times, astronomers have proposed various explanations for the star. A nova, a planet, a comet, an occultation, and a conjunction (gathering of planets) have all been suggested. Many scholars question the historical accuracy of the story and argue that the star was a fiction created by the author of the Gospel of Matthew.