Looking at the Skies

A unique journey through the history of the cosmos—told through art and science

Since ancient times, humanity has looked to the sky in search of meaning—and, in doing so, has also sought to understand itself. But science has not been our only tool: artists across centuries and disciplines have tried to capture the immensity of the cosmos in their work, expressing not only our evolving understanding of the universe but also the emotions it evokes.

Guided by astrophysicist and science communicator Montserrat Villar Martín, we travel through centuries of history via paintings, engravings, sculptures, and other artistic expressions that have shaped our vision of the cosmos. Exploring themes such as constellations and the myths they inspired, comets as harbingers of death, astrology as an attempt to read destiny in the stars, and the enduring question of life beyond Earth—reflected in the works of Vermeer, Dante, Voltaire, and many others—the author shows how astronomy has profoundly influenced our culture and imagination.

With vivid storytelling, visual depth, and a multidisciplinary lens, Looking at the Skies offers a cultural history of our enduring fascination with the sky—revealing how art and science have been deeply intertwined since the dawn of civilization. It invites us to keep looking upward, and to see the universe not only as a scientific frontier but also as a boundless source of beauty, meaning, and inspiration.