Hollis Frances uses astronomy software to revisit the Christmas story

Hollis Frances has released a Christmas special edition of his quarterly journal, using astronomy software, biblical history, and archaeology to reconstruct the night sky around Jesus’ birth. The independently published eBook, Visit of the Wise Men, is available on Amazon for $2.99 and includes a daily Bible reading plan.

Why it matters: - Visit of the Wise Men tries to connect the Nativity story with historical and astronomical evidence, giving faith readers a new way to think about the Christmas account. - The book also reflects a broader debate over how Christians interpret Christmas traditions and the historical roots of the holiday. - The project is aimed at readers who want biblical reflection paired with evidence-based discussion.

What happened: - Hollis Frances published Visit of the Wise Men as a Christmas special edition of his quarterly journal, An Alter Called Witness. - Frances used astronomy software to rewind the sky about two thousand years and examine what could have been overhead when Jesus was born. - The book is listed as independently published in 2025 and is available as an eBook on Amazon for $2.99.

The details: - The book blends Bible history, archaeology, and astronomy. - Frances places the Wise Men story in its historical setting, including first-century Jewish life and the prophecy background. - Frances cites filmmaker Rick Larson’s documentary The Star of Bethlehem, which places Jesus’ birth in June and identifies a close meeting of Jupiter and Venus as the star. - Frances extends the astronomy review by including Earth, the dwarf planets Makemake and Ceres, and other vantage points to compare what the software showed. - The book presents Mary and Joseph through the lens of Jewish engagement and marriage customs. - The book describes the Bethlehem shepherds as tending sheep raised for Temple sacrifice. - The book suggests the Magi may have been students or descendants of the exiled prophet Daniel who were still watching the skies generations later. - Frances frames the book around the idea of witness, linking the shepherds’ experience with the stars’ perspective above. - The quarterly journal’s name, An Alter Called Witness, follows that theme. - Frances says he did not interpret the zodiac and instead recorded the zodiac locations of the Sun, Moon, and planets from different dates, times, and locations using astronomy software. - The special edition includes a daily Bible reading plan.

Between the lines: - Frances is positioning the book as a factual exploration rather than a symbolic reading of the skies. - That approach separates his project from more interpretive astrology-based Christian writing. - The closing essay by writer Richard Davis introduces a more critical view of Christmas and Easter traditions, including claims about pagan roots. - Frances says he has come to understand that critique and believes Christmas celebration has shifted from Jesus to Santa Claus as a cultural figure. - Early Reader Views praise frames the book as contemplative and concept-heavy, signaling a niche audience interested in faith and historical argument.

What's next: - Frances says he plans to continue writing and publishing An Alter Called Witness. - The author’s work is available through his Writing.com portfolio and an interview linked in the release. - Readers can find more information through the author's portfolio and the interview.

The bottom line: - Visit of the Wise Men repackages the Nativity story as a mix of scripture, astronomy, and historical reconstruction, with a clear goal of making the familiar Christmas narrative feel newly grounded in evidence.