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For the Bethlehem star research the creator of the website http://www.bethlehemstar.net/ used the starry night software.

It shows the sky from any place on earth from any point in history. This should VERY useful for this type of research for only a few dollars.

http://www.starrynightstore.com/

I'm not aware of any group which denies Jesus was a real person. They may not all agree on "who" he was or the meaning of his teachings, but they agree he existed.

Here are a few resources for this
http://www.carm.org/bible/extrabiblical_accounts.htm

>>What other "myths" could be somewhat verified in this manner?

Like the day Jesus was crucified?

"... because with Kepler's equations we can determine exactly when historical eclipses occurred. Perhaps it will not surprise you to learn that only one Passover lunar eclipse was visible from Jerusalem while Pilate was in office (30). It occurred on April 3, 33 AD, the Day of the Cross...."

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm

The earth quakes which occurred during Jesus's Crucifixion?

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood..." The gospels do recount that the sun was darkened on the day of the crucifixion from noon until 3 in the afternoon (29). Ancient non-Biblical sources confirm this. Phlegon Trallianus records in his history, Olympiades (41):

        "In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad [AD 32-33], a failure of the Sun took place greater than any previously known, and night came on at the sixth hour of the day [noon], so that stars actually appeared in the sky; and a great earthquake took place in Bithynia and overthrew the greater part of Niceaea," obviously not a simple astronomical event. (42)

Or the Star of Bethlehem? A conjunction of Jupiter and the star Regulas in 2 BC which fulfills all 9 Biblical requirements of the star of Bethlehem?

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/dance/dance.htm

QUOTE
      1. It signified birth.
      2. It signified kingship.
      3. It had a connection with the Jewish nation.

      4. It rose in the east, like other stars.
      5. It appeared at a precise time.
      6. Herod didn't know when it appeared.
      7. It endured over time.
      8. It was ahead of the Magi as they went south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
      9. It stopped over Bethlehem. (Retrograde motion)

One point in contention is when Herod died. This theory depends on Herod dying in 1 BC, but most historians believe he died 4 BC. There is evidence for this theory but it isn't widely accepted. See the link for more details.

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/stage/stage.htm

I'm not aware of any group which denies Jesus was a real person. They may not all agree on "who" he was or the meaning of his teachings, but they agree he existed.

Here are a few resources for this
http://www.carm.org/bible/extrabiblical_accounts.htm

>>What other "myths" could be somewhat verified in this manner?

Like the day Jesus was crucified?

"... because with Kepler's equations we can determine exactly when historical eclipses occurred. Perhaps it will not surprise you to learn that only one Passover lunar eclipse was visible from Jerusalem while Pilate was in office (30). It occurred on April 3, 33 AD, the Day of the Cross...."

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm

The earth quakes which occurred during Jesus's Crucifixion?

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood..." The gospels do recount that the sun was darkened on the day of the crucifixion from noon until 3 in the afternoon (29). Ancient non-Biblical sources confirm this. Phlegon Trallianus records in his history, Olympiades (41):

        "In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad [AD 32-33], a failure of the Sun took place greater than any previously known, and night came on at the sixth hour of the day [noon], so that stars actually appeared in the sky; and a great earthquake took place in Bithynia and overthrew the greater part of Niceaea," obviously not a simple astronomical event. (42)

Or the Star of Bethlehem? A conjunction of Jupiter and the star Regulas in 2 BC which fulfills all 9 Biblical requirements of the star of Bethlehem?

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/dance/dance.htm

QUOTE
      1. It signified birth.
      2. It signified kingship.
      3. It had a connection with the Jewish nation.

      4. It rose in the east, like other stars.
      5. It appeared at a precise time.
      6. Herod didn't know when it appeared.
      7. It endured over time.
      8. It was ahead of the Magi as they went south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
      9. It stopped over Bethlehem. (Retrograde motion)

One point in contention is when Herod died. This theory depends on Herod dying in 1 BC, but most historians believe he died 4 BC. There is evidence for this theory but it isn't widely accepted. See the link for more details.

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/stage/stage.htm

I'm not aware of any group which denies Jesus was a real person. They may not all agree on "who" he was or the meaning of his teachings, but they agree he existed.

Here are a few resources for this
http://www.carm.org/bible/extrabiblical_accounts.htm

>>What other "myths" could be somewhat verified in this manner?

Like the day Jesus was crucified?

"... because with Kepler's equations we can determine exactly when historical eclipses occurred. Perhaps it will not surprise you to learn that only one Passover lunar eclipse was visible from Jerusalem while Pilate was in office (30). It occurred on April 3, 33 AD, the Day of the Cross...."

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm

The earth quakes which occurred during Jesus's Crucifixion?

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood..." The gospels do recount that the sun was darkened on the day of the crucifixion from noon until 3 in the afternoon (29). Ancient non-Biblical sources confirm this. Phlegon Trallianus records in his history, Olympiades (41):

        "In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad [AD 32-33], a failure of the Sun took place greater than any previously known, and night came on at the sixth hour of the day [noon], so that stars actually appeared in the sky; and a great earthquake took place in Bithynia and overthrew the greater part of Niceaea," obviously not a simple astronomical event. (42)

Or the Star of Bethlehem? A conjunction of Jupiter and the star Regulas in 2 BC which fulfills all 9 Biblical requirements of the star of Bethlehem?

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/dance/dance.htm

QUOTE
      1. It signified birth.
      2. It signified kingship.
      3. It had a connection with the Jewish nation.

      4. It rose in the east, like other stars.
      5. It appeared at a precise time.
      6. Herod didn't know when it appeared.
      7. It endured over time.
      8. It was ahead of the Magi as they went south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
      9. It stopped over Bethlehem. (Retrograde motion)

One point in contention is when Herod died. This theory depends on Herod dying in 1 BC, but most historians believe he died 4 BC. There is evidence for this theory but it isn't widely accepted. See the link for more details.

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/stage/stage.htm

I'm not aware of any group which denies Jesus was a real person. They may not all agree on "who" he was or the meaning of his teachings, but they agree he existed.

Here are a few resources for this
http://www.carm.org/bible/extrabiblical_accounts.htm

>>What other "myths" could be somewhat verified in this manner?

Like the day Jesus was crucified?

"... because with Kepler's equations we can determine exactly when historical eclipses occurred. Perhaps it will not surprise you to learn that only one Passover lunar eclipse was visible from Jerusalem while Pilate was in office (30). It occurred on April 3, 33 AD, the Day of the Cross...."

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm

The earth quakes which occurred during Jesus's Crucifixion?

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood..." The gospels do recount that the sun was darkened on the day of the crucifixion from noon until 3 in the afternoon (29). Ancient non-Biblical sources confirm this. Phlegon Trallianus records in his history, Olympiades (41):

        "In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad [AD 32-33], a failure of the Sun took place greater than any previously known, and night came on at the sixth hour of the day [noon], so that stars actually appeared in the sky; and a great earthquake took place in Bithynia and overthrew the greater part of Niceaea," obviously not a simple astronomical event. (42)

Or the Star of Bethlehem? A conjunction of Jupiter and the star Regulas in 2 BC which fulfills all 9 Biblical requirements of the star of Bethlehem?

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/dance/dance.htm

QUOTE
      1. It signified birth.
      2. It signified kingship.
      3. It had a connection with the Jewish nation.

      4. It rose in the east, like other stars.
      5. It appeared at a precise time.
      6. Herod didn't know when it appeared.
      7. It endured over time.
      8. It was ahead of the Magi as they went south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
      9. It stopped over Bethlehem. (Retrograde motion)

One point in contention is when Herod died. This theory depends on Herod dying in 1 BC, but most historians believe he died 4 BC. There is evidence for this theory but it isn't widely accepted. See the link for more details.

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/stage/stage.htm

Secondly Christmas is most likely celebrated on the anniversary of the wisemen showing up in Bethlehem. Check here for more information for what I am talking about. Incredible presentation by at former professor at Texas A&M.

December 25th is obviously ruled out as Christ's actual birthdate by the simple fact that shepherds were sleeping in the fields. December 25th, though probably selected to divert attention from pagan holidays, just might have been the actual day the Magi came to visit the baby Jesus... take a look at this.