Poets and astronomers often ask the same questions. Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? Throughout human history, poetry has provided stories about what people observe in the sky. Stars, planets, comets, the moon, and space travel are used as metaphors for our feelings of love, loneliness, adventurousness, and awe. This anthology includes poets, astronomers, and scientists from the 12th century BCE to today, from all around the world. Sappho, Du Fu, Hafez, and Shakespeare are joined by Gwyneth Lewis's space requiem, Tracy K. Smith on the Hubble telescope, and Charles Simic, whose poem accompanied a NASA mission. Astronomers Tycho Brahe and Edmund Halley accompany modern scientists including Rebecca Elson, Alice Gorman on the first woman in space, and Yun Wang's space journal on travel to Andromeda. This collection reaches across time and cultures to illuminate how we think about outer space, and ourselves.

‘Ideal for dipping into, and as easy to enjoy as a glimpse of the stars at night, this anthology is filled with those tiny doors into the infinite that poetry is so good at throwing open.'

Robert Crawford - Emeritus Professor of Modern Scottish Literature and Bishop Wardlaw Professor of Poetry, University of St Andrews; Editor of Contemporary Poetry and Contemporary Science (2006)

‘An eclectic collection of poetry from BCE to the present, which reveals our unchanging response to a starry night, along with our changing understanding of the science.'

Jocelyn Bell Burnell - Professorial Fellow of Physics, University of Oxford

‘We haven't yet sent poets into space, but this collection is the next best thing. Around the world and throughout history, the mystery and romance of space have inspired reflections on the universe and ourselves. The poets represented in this book are stimulating guides on a memorable journey through the cosmos.’

Sean Carroll - author of Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime

‘Like a ride in a spaceship, this wonderful collection of poems takes you on a unique journey. Through a myriad of perspectives, you’ll fly in space, visit the stars and planets, and explore our place in the universe.’

Cady Coleman - former NASA astronaut

‘I really enjoyed how the poems are laid out in a timeline fashion and, as a result, experiencing how a variety of poets have approached different space themes across time. This is a wonderful way to experience the lure of the cosmos for humanity and our love of space.’

Sian Proctor - astronaut