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]
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]
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 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."
- Aeronautica Militare Italiana (eng.: The Italian Air Force), is the air force of the Italian Republic. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923 by King Victor Emmanuel III as the Regia Aeronautica ("Royal Air Force"). Italy was among the earliest adopters of military aviation. Its air arm dates back to 1884, when the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito) was authorised to acquire its own air component.
- Albury High School in Albury, New South Wales, Australia
- Apollo 1 memorial placed at Launch Complex 34
- Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina
- Dr Challoner's Grammar School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England
- Immaculate Conception High School in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica, West Indies
- The State of Kansas (U.S. state motto)[10]
- Morristown-Beard School in Morristown, New Jersey
- Mount Saint Michael Academy in The Bronx, New York City
- Starfleet, the fictional organization in the Star Trek universe
- Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Florida
- University of Klagenfurt
- Woodville High School, South Australia
- Murroe AFC
De profundis ad astra
"From the depths to the stars."
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."
- The Philomathean Society, Philadelphia, PA, USA[15]
- The Canongate, Edinburgh
- Admiral Collingwood Lodge, Australia
- Richmond, Virginia (city)
- Argentine Air Force, Materiel Command, Argentina
- The Geelong College, Australia
- Canadian Air Force (1920–24)
- Colombian Aerospace Force
- 48 Air School in Woodbridge East London, one of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facilities in South Africa. Other units had Ad Unum Ad Astra and Per Artem Ad Astra.
- Llandysul Grammar School, Llandysul, Ceredigion, Wales
"Such is the pathway to the stars."
"Reach for the stars."
Hinc itur ad astra
"From here the way leads to the stars"
Music
- "Per aspera ad Astra" is the name of the track from the album Eppur si muove by German symphonic metal band Haggard.
- 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.[16]
- "Ad Astra" is the title of a song by Finnish composer Antti Martikainen from the album "Novum" released November 30, 2022.
Film and television
- 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.
Computer games
- A 1984 computer game, Ad Astra is an outer space shoot-em-up with a 3-D perspective.[17]
- The phrase Ad astra abyssosque was used as the motto for the Adventurer's Guild in the video game Genshin Impact.
Harper, Douglas. "ad". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
Harper, Douglas. "astra". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
"Ad Astra". World of Spectrum. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2020.