Could they have been following three UFO’s?
As were “the pillar of smoke by day and pillar of fire by night”, it could *also* have been an entirely supernatural object put there intentionally by God.
no, perhaps one.
Perhaps one sitting within the earths atmosphere serving as a beacon, stationary as a omni directional beacon. We are told that people came in from every direction inclusive of the wise men. I think some came in from over hill and dale with their asses from as far as 200 miles away; meaning the “star” was constant and static for many days. You have to remember that all stars move, excepting the north star, and thus cannot act as a “beacon”.
Also, a lot of the artists depictions show focused light on the birthplace.
And there is more, far more, but they did not use or say it in those words.