Ad astra (phrase)

Ad astra is a Latin phrase meaning "to the stars". The phrase has origins with Virgil, who wrote in his Aeneid: "sic itur ad astra" ('thus one journeys to the stars')[1] and "opta ardua pennis astra sequi" ('desire to pursue the high[/hard to reach] stars on wings').[2] Another origin is Seneca the Younger, who wrote in Hercules: "non est ad astra mollis e terris via" ('there is no easy way from the earth to the stars').[3]

For other uses, see Ad astra (disambiguation).

Etymology

Ad is a Latin preposition expressing direction toward in space or time (e.g. ad nauseam, ad infinitum, ad hoc, ad libidem, ad valorem, ad hominem). It is also used as a prefix in Latin word formation.[4]

Astra is the accusative plural form of the Latin word astrum 'star' (from Ancient Greek ἄστρον astron 'star', from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ster-).[5]

Mottos

Ad astra is used as, or as part of, the motto of many organizations, most prominently, air forces. It has also been adopted as a proper name for various unrelated things (publications, bands, video games, etc.). It likewise sees general use as a popular Latin tag.

Ad astra

Ad astra per alas porci

"To the stars on the wings of a pig"

  • Motto on John Steinbeck's personal stamp, featuring a figure of the Pigasus.[8] Steinbeck's motto had an error in the Latin and used 'alia' instead of 'alas'.[9]
  • Title of Chris Thile's Mandolin Concerto.

Ad astra per aspera

"To the stars through difficulties;" "a rough road leads to the stars;" or "Through hardships, to the stars."

De profundis ad astra

"From the depths to the stars."

Per ardua ad astra
Main article: Per ardua ad astra

"Through adversity to the stars" or "Through struggle to the stars."

Per aspera ad astra

"Through hardships to the stars" or "To the stars through difficulties."

Per audacia ad astra

"Through boldness to the stars."

Quam celerrime ad astra

"speedily to the stars."

Sic itur ad astra

"Thus one goes to the stars."

"Such is the pathway to the stars."

"Reach for the stars."

": Macte animo generose puer! Sic itur ad astra

Hinc itur ad astra

"From here the way leads to the stars"

Other uses
  • A derived phrase, ex astris ('from the stars'), is used frequently in NASA publications and in science fiction—see Ex astris, scientia.
  • Ad Astra is a 1976 public artwork by American artist Richard Lippold. Lippold's sculpture is located outside the Jefferson Drive entrance, and in the collection, of the National Air and Space Museum.
  • A 1984 computer game, Ad Astra is an outer space shoot-em-up with a 3-D perspective.[16]
  • "Ad Astra" is the title of a William Faulkner short story, found in Collected Stories of William Faulkner (New York: Vintage International).
  • Ad Astra is the title of a 2019 science fiction film starring Brad Pitt.
  • The phrase Sic itur ad astra was also used in the Netflix's Singaporean anime-influenced television series Trese.
  • The phrase Ad astra abyssosque was used as the motto for the Adventurer's Guild in the video game Genshin Impact.
  • "Ad Astra" is the title of a song by Finnish composer Antti Martikainen from the album "Novum" released November 30, 2022.
  • The phrase "Ad Astra" is a key phrase in Nightwish's song Shoemaker and the name of track 8 on disc two from their album Human. :II: Nature.

References
  1. Virgil, Aeneid IX 641. Spoken by Apollo to Aeneas's young son Iulus.
  2. Virgil, Aenied XII 892–93. Spoken by Aeneas to his foe, Turnus, in their combat.
  3. Seneca the Younger, Hercules Furens 437. Spoken by Megara, Hercules' wife.
  4. Harper, Douglas. "ad". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  5. Harper, Douglas. "astra". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  6. Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1929). Armorial Families: a Directory of Gentleman of Coat-Armour. Hurst & Blackett. p. 58. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  7. "Class Facts | US Air Force Academy AOG & Endowment". www2.usafa.org.
  8. "Pigasus". Steinbeck Center.
  9. "sluggo on the street". sluggo on the street.
  10. "lasfsinc.info - The LASFS Coat of Arms". www.lasfsinc.info.
  11. "Decorations of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin". Archived from the original on 29 August 2008.
  12. "Seal of Kansas". Kansapedia. Kansas Historical Society. March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  13. "Nederlandsch-Indische Gemeentewapens" (PDF). NV Mij Vorkink. September 1933. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  14. "Gouda in the official Dutch heraldic records". High Council of the Nobility (Hoge Raad van Adel), The Hague. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  15. "Philomathean Society homepage". Philomathean Society.
  16. "Ad Astra". World of Spectrum. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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