Note 17 — Chapter IV
Reading edition
A curious instance of popular unacquaintance with astronomy was afforded some months ago, when the planet Venus, which one would think was a well-known object to most people, was mistaken for “the Star of Bethlehem;” and this mistake was by no means confined to the ignorant, but was shared by persons of education.
The planet was at the time a brilliant “morning star;” and the effect on the eye is more striking in these circumstances than when it is seen, as is very commonly the case, in the evening, shortly after sunset. I suppose this would account in some measure for the delusion.
In clearer and finer skies than those of England, Venus is sometimes so brilliant in the early morning as to startle an unaccustomed observer.