The direction, distance and motion of the comet through the sky during its closest approach could have made it seem like it was hovering over Bethlehem when Jesus was said to have been born.

According to the IDF, Wednesday’s strikes also targeted Hamas infrastructure and operatives across several sites in Gaza. Abdallah Abu Shamala, head of Hamas’s Navy in Gaza, and Fadi Abu Mustafa, a senior tunnel engineer in the Khan Yunis Brigade, were killed during IDF strikes on Wednesday, the military confirmed in a joint statement with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) on Thursday.

Space is extremely dangerous, but people can still do more than robotic explorers can – in terms of technical achievements and inspiring public interest.