In the pungent medley of our solar system,
interstellar clouds filled with atoms
host a palette of scents,
of bitter almond in Jupiter’s layers,
rum and raspberries in the Milky Way,
sweet frosty notes of Enceladus’ glaze.
The Moon reeks with gunpowder and gas,
blackened barbecue steak wafts from Mars,
Neptune leaves nothing to the nose.
When astronauts take a walk,
floating particles cling to their suits
and hitch a ride to the base.
In the re-pressurisation chamber,
they blend with oxygen to unleash
a tangy celestial feast.
Yet we would die if we tried
to take unadulterated whiffs of outer space
to savour the breath of dying stars.
Published in Consilience Field Notes (Vol 1., Jan 2023) "Perceptions"
www.consilience-journal.com/field-notes
The Science
The Science What does outer space smell like? When astronauts return from space walks and remove their suits and helmets, they experience strange but familiar scents, often described as “smoky”, “gassy” or “metallic”. While we cannot have a direct olfactory experience of outer space, scientists have emulated interstellar odors via spectroscopy, which allows them to analyze the light from stars and objects in space and associate them with corresponding chemicals, e.g., cyanide gives a whiff of bitter almonds on Jupiter. A theory suggests that it’s the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – the star making compounds – which, when combined with air during re-pressurization, may be responsible for the unique tang of space. This poem is about how we engage our senses (olfactory, gustatory), imagination and scientific knowledge to make sense of our environment.
interstellar clouds filled with atoms
host a palette of scents,
of bitter almond in Jupiter’s layers,
rum and raspberries in the Milky Way,
sweet frosty notes of Enceladus’ glaze.
The Moon reeks with gunpowder and gas,
blackened barbecue steak wafts from Mars,
Neptune leaves nothing to the nose.
When astronauts take a walk,
floating particles cling to their suits
and hitch a ride to the base.
In the re-pressurisation chamber,
they blend with oxygen to unleash
a tangy celestial feast.
Yet we would die if we tried
to take unadulterated whiffs of outer space
to savour the breath of dying stars.
Published in Consilience Field Notes (Vol 1., Jan 2023) "Perceptions"
www.consilience-journal.com/field-notes
The Science
The Science What does outer space smell like? When astronauts return from space walks and remove their suits and helmets, they experience strange but familiar scents, often described as “smoky”, “gassy” or “metallic”. While we cannot have a direct olfactory experience of outer space, scientists have emulated interstellar odors via spectroscopy, which allows them to analyze the light from stars and objects in space and associate them with corresponding chemicals, e.g., cyanide gives a whiff of bitter almonds on Jupiter. A theory suggests that it’s the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – the star making compounds – which, when combined with air during re-pressurization, may be responsible for the unique tang of space. This poem is about how we engage our senses (olfactory, gustatory), imagination and scientific knowledge to make sense of our environment.
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