Planetarium

Several celestial bodies function as symbols in “Planetarium.” In addition to the previously discussed Andromeda (galaxy and constellation), an important figure in the “night sky” (Line 11) is the moon. It connects the historical figure of Caroline Herschel with the first-person plural speaker: the “moon ruled” (Line 9) Herschel, “like us” (Line 10). Being ruled over by the moon is, symbolically, being controlled by lunar time. Women specifically are ruled by the menstrual cycle, which follows a similar cycle to the moon. The moon itself is often cast as female in myth and literature.

Another celestial figure that Rich includes in “Planetarium” is the constellation Taurus. Taurus symbolically references Zeus in disguise as a bull in Greek myth. Taurus also references the bull of heaven that is connected to Ishtar and Inanna in Babylon and Sumeria, respectively. Rich’s first-person speaker is “bombarded” (Line 34) with a “radio impulse” (Line 32) from “Taurus” (Line 33)—the Tycho supernova. This is the impact of mythology, and the scientific discoveries that use mythological names, on her.

Time is a motif that runs throughout “Planetarium.” It first appears as the capitalized “Clocks” (Line 5), marking its power over people by making it a proper noun. Humans are only given so much time to live—their lives span a certain number of years.