The Elegance of Astronomical Symbols

A Brief History and Origin of Astronomical Symbols

I have always been fascinated by symbols and the messages they communicate. As a graphic designer, my favorite projects were creating logos. I love the elegance and slickness of silhouette logos that tell a story with just a glance.

I had similar feelings when viewing the art and graphics of the classic Halo video game. Within the lore of Halo, an ancient species named the Forerunners designed beautiful, grandiose architecture that within the context of the game, looked ancient, spiritual, and foreign, yet technologically advanced.

Their symbols communicated a species outside of time. This is how I’ve seen astronomical symbols. They represent objects that have been around millions of years before us and more than likely millions of years after us. They are simple yet elegant and are a reflection of the mythology that helped ancient people interpret what they saw in the heavens.

The experience was spiritual in the sense that I’m observing the same stars and planets the ancients observed. It’s a reminder that we are a part of something greater that exists outside of our present problems, quarrels, and complaints.