ad astra

Latin

Etymology

From ad (“to”) + astra (“stars, heaven”, acc. pl.) as a metaphor for immortality and eternal glory.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /aˈdas.tra/, [äˈd̪äs̠t̪rä]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /aˈdas.tra/, [äˈd̪äst̪rä]

Phrase

ad astra

1. (idiomatic) to the stars, to heaven (cf. reach for the stars)

   per aspera ad astra

   Through hardships to the stars.

   • 29 BCE – 19 BCE, Virgil, Aeneid 9.640:

     macte novā virtūte, puer, sīc ītur ad astra

     • 2007 translation by Ahl, Frederick

       Blessings on your new manhood, my boy. That’s the pathway to heaven.

Usage notes

Used in a large variety of poetic expressions and modern mottoes.

Further reading

• “astrum”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Ad astra (phrase) on Wikipedia