Write a story about someone witnessing — or trying to witness — a celestial phenomenon.

Posted in Adventure on Jan 5, 2024

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✍️ 38 stories

“It Wasn't Neil Armstrong, Either” by Lindsay D

Submitted to Contest #232

6:50 PM. “I can’t wear this,” I mutter out loud to the dust bunnies floating in the air as my reflection stares back at me. My fingers fumble with the buttons of the light green collared shirt. I slide it off my shoulders and toss it on the floor into the pile of other garments that already failed inspection this afternoon. It’s the fourth outfit I’ve tried on so far, and I’m running out of time. But tonight has to be perfect. I rifle through my closet one more time and finally settle on my black Radiohead t-shirt and a pair of ...

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“Cuando el Sol Sale Ror el Oeste” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #232

It was the last day of our summer break, and it was expected that the world would end.“Today is the day, but I don’t know when...“ Anna said, her hand shielding her eyes against the bright, midday sun sparkling off the blue ocean waves. Me and my cousins, Anna and Miguel had been on the beach, playing cards on towels on our last morning, maybe ever. A solar eclipse had been forecasted for sometime that afternoon. A rumor had spread widely that this year, in the complete darkness of the total eclipse, natural disasters would en...

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“The Northern Lights are not green.” by Emma Sinclair

Submitted to Contest #232

I’m sure I’m offending Scandi natives by even suggesting such a thing but… the Northern Lights are not green. At least from where I’m standing, at the northern-most tip of the Scottish mainland, they are not green. Rachel is most upset. The Northern Lights at Dunnet Head are grey. There is about 3 ft of land left between us and the sea. I couldn’t have brought her any closer to them without getting into a boat or a plane.“This is going to look awful on Instagram!” She pouts, as if somehow getting a photo to post online was of the utmost impo...

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“Northern Lights” by Eve Colabella

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #232

The taste of mint was stinging my mouth when you phoned me. We’d see them if we were quick, you said. I bundled layers over the top of my pyjamas and raced to your car. You were waiting with a spark in your eye, drumming your fingers on the wheel. In the darkness we felt forbidden, like children skipping curfew. I didn’t know where we were. I joked that now would be the perfect time for you to kill me if you wanted to. You laughed; you must really trust me. Our spot was vacant. Black pooled around us, disappearing into the dense tree line...

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“Gifts from the East” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

Submitted to Contest #232

Content warning: Mentions of deathThe bustle of the city of Babylon was slowing as people retreated to their homes. Candles glowed and flickered in windows as breezes swirled the scents of the hanging gardens through the streets and up to the rooftops. Balthasar gazed up, watching the sky darken. The first stars were visible. Caspar, youngest of the trio, had not yet come to the roof, and Melchior was already sitting against the wall encircling the rooftop, dozing. He’s getting old, Balthasar thought wryly, glancing at the venerable gra...

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“The Perfect Shot” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #232

The first howl sliced through the evening like a fang through flesh.Cooper Elwine shivered. He knew there were local werewolves, but to have confirmation chilled him. He patted the Smith & Wesson in its holster. He’d loaded it with five silver-tipped cartridges. ‘In case,’ he murmured to himself.Overhead, the sky had begun to darken. The supermoon was on the horizon, in all its celestial glory. It glimpsed through the trees, poking its face out here and there as if in hiding.His heart trilled within its constraints of bone, trying to bre...

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“Spaces Between Where We Are Sure” by Morgan Aloia

Submitted to Contest #232

Sylber saw the shape of a whisper, rippling out across endless disjointed space, and it drew him to fixation.He was sitting, now, days later, searching in his way staying perfectly still. The passage of time seemed suspended as he delved into the intricate patterns of the starlit tapestry adorning the ceiling above him. Erudite symbols intertwined, capturing the essence of all that had ever been seen. Each symbol was a gateway to knowledge, a testament to the countless explorations undertaken by the scholars of the Athalial League. The livin...

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“Anything For You” by Ian McKenna

Submitted to Contest #232

“Will you stay with me?” “I’ll be right here.” “Will you?” “Yes.” A silvery shadow fell from the sky. A chain, as wide as the moon and the length from it to the Earth, lumbered down into the western horizon. A billion rockets, burning til they exploded, slowed its descent. Vincent, a tall and slender man, would have faced quite the wind if not. The rockets worked fine, though. In a moment, the chain will slip into its bolt with the force of a feather. Seeing the rockets, unaccountable sparkles surrounding a metal megalith, he sighed at ...

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“Lumina” by Radek Michalik

Submitted to Contest #232

When the invasion arrived, nobody noticed. A vast armada, hundreds of vessels, thousands of beings. Advanced interplanetary craft descending through our atmosphere, into Washington DC, Tokyo, Mumbai. And every tiny hamlet in-between. FIRST CONTACT! The pundits should have screamed. WE’RE NOT ALONE! BUT DO THEY COME IN PEACE? Never underestimate the selective focus of homo sapiens, especially when there are elections, when the markets are going haywire, and did you see about what our daughter’s friend poste...

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“Falling Sparks” by Jennifer Johnson

Submitted to Contest #232

A small child sat quietly in a seat with his knees drawn up to his chin. No one sat beside him as the bus steadily lumbered down the uneven pavement. It swayed gently side to side as it traveled mile after mile. In his hands, a photo could be seen. Many creases were visible showing it was held often. Absently, lovingly, he ran his thumb across the picture as his eyes gazed out the window. Impassively, the young boy watched as small towns and neighborhoods gradually changed over to rolling hills and pasture land.. .The small child looked up a...

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“Na Fir-chlis” by Amanda Zambrano

Submitted to Contest #232

Flora Somerville, God love her soul, had worked her way into my life and heart and had managed, beyond my stubborn resistance, to become a friend. It started when I began taking Wee Rabb to the library for children’s books. It was Flora who introduced me to Burns for children (who doesn’t want to read Burns for Bairns?) and an absolutely darling book in Scots about a wee dug named Shug. I enjoyed learning Scots along with Wee Rabb and only wished I was brave enough to attempt Gaelic. That, I supposed, would have to be left to Rabbie. But ou...

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“The Bright Nights ” by Nina Darling

Submitted to Contest #232

It was the best of times, it was the… oh wait, that’s a different story. I should lead with a more original first line. It was the longest day of my young life. My mother had woken us in the night, packed the car, and drove all night and all the next day. We had only stopped to use questionable gas station rest rooms and to eat the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches she seemed to have an endless supply of. I really wanted McDonald’s, but she said it was too expensive for all of us to order burgers, drinks, and fries. I had 3 younger sisters,...

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“Under the Medallion Star” by Olisa Okoye

Submitted to Contest #232

Pegasus could be seen from any spot within the gigantic expanse of the stadium. Oris and his best friends would occasionally stand at the base of the stadium to observe the radiant glow and ring of dust floating around Pegasus. Something about this celestial body could steal your breath. It was a majestic spectacle for all to behold; it stood gallantly bright and fierce as its light penetrated every corner of the cosmos. All citizens of Centauri b revered Pegasus because it outshone every other star in its constellation. But th...

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“Aurora” by Adrian Fahy

Submitted to Contest #232

Giant teardrops lay shimmering on the cold sand. Leo examined them from every angle, marvelling at nature's artistry. "Look, Dylan, you can see where the iceberg split from.... I think it's called The Breiðamerkursandur glacier. " He knew exactly what it was called and took great pleasure pronouncing it correctly. Dylan, who was more enthralled by his phone than by Diamond Beach, barely regarded the prodigious jewels. He stuffed the device back into his pocket just as his Father turned around. They only landed the previous day, and 'Dylan, g...

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“The Watcher” by Nicholas Thomas

Submitted to Contest #232

The time is approximately 12:30 a.m. An astronomy student sits on a hill near the clearing of a sleeping forest. Her grey SUV – which she used to arrive at this point which was miles away from the nearest town to ensure the night sky was clear of any possible light pollution – is parked here, cold and quiet after being turned off for over an hour at least. The grass beneath the astronomer's feet is a vibrant turquoise in the pale moonlight – her shoes are off so she can feel the relaxing dew; a literally g...

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Write a story about someone witnessing — or trying to witness — a celestial phenomenon.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 38 stories

“It Wasn't Neil Armstrong, Either” by Lindsay D

“Cuando el Sol Sale Ror el Oeste” by Marty B

“The Northern Lights are not green.” by Emma Sinclair

“Northern Lights” by Eve Colabella

“Gifts from the East” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

“The Perfect Shot” by Joshua G. J. Insole

“Spaces Between Where We Are Sure” by Morgan Aloia

“Anything For You” by Ian McKenna

“Lumina” by Radek Michalik

“Falling Sparks” by Jennifer Johnson

“Na Fir-chlis” by Amanda Zambrano

“The Bright Nights ” by Nina Darling

“Under the Medallion Star” by Olisa Okoye

“Aurora” by Adrian Fahy

“The Watcher” by Nicholas Thomas

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story during polar night.

Write a story set in a world with a dying sun, or where light is a scarce resource.

Write a story about someone who has been tasked to keep a flame burning, surrounded by total darkness.

Write a story about someone looking for a sign in a dark sky.

Contest #232

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

278

Contest entries

106

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: