The "Star of Bethlehem" is a fascinating topic, but there's no scientific consensus on what it actually was. Here's why it's difficult to say whether it shone day and night:

* Biblical Description: The Bible offers only a brief mention of the star. It doesn't provide details like how bright it was, its color, or how long it appeared.

* Multiple Theories: Scholars have proposed various theories about the Star of Bethlehem, including:

* A conjunction of planets: Two or more planets appearing close together in the sky.

* A supernova: A massive star exploding.

* A comet: A celestial body with a tail of dust and gas.

* A meteor shower: A large number of meteors appearing in the sky.

* Limited Scientific Evidence: While some theories might be more plausible than others, none have been definitively proven.

In conclusion: We don't know if the Star of Bethlehem shone day and night. The Bible doesn't offer that detail, and the scientific evidence is insufficient to say for certain.