How did the Star of Jesus happen?

There are two basic categories of explanation:

1) God caused it to appear by means consistent with scientific law (i.e., three stars converging in their normal routes, supernova, etc)
2) God caused it to appear by means outside of scientific law (i.e., star appearing for just wise men, etc)

The first, while containing God in the natural order, does still require the truth of God's sovereignty and omniscience. Three stars converging or a supernova occurring at exactly the right time could only be perfectly arranged by a Sovereign God with advanced omniscience.

The second is the very definition of a miracle- God's hand at work outside of the natural order, as opposed to the consistent sovereignty and providence by which God administers the world.

I personally think it could have been either- God at work through natural or miraculous means. In the end, it accomplished its intended purpose.

I do wonder, though, why some go to such great lengths to prove the scientific realities of this occurrence. It is the same with the the long days of Joshua, Hezekiah, etc. While not knowing, from the Scripture accounts, whether these events were natural or miraculous, Christians often feel the compulsion to offer naturalistic possibilities. Again, these explanations may have been the means God used, but we cannot be sure. The fickle nature of scientific "fact" could  only give credence to a Biblical "miracle" for a short time and likely never to a "scientific community" intent on ignoring the scientific method and God's revealed Word.

We don't need NASA's confirmation to believe that it happened. We don't need to be able to explain it to make it real. And, like the rich man of Luke 16, unbelieving scientists or critics will not come to belief because of "proof" if they've rejected the Word.

So, whether natural or miracle, let us rejoice that it happened and that it made known the incarnation of God. That's what we need the world to know.