Out of this World Books
Published on 23rd March 2026
As part of Irish Astronomy Week why not check out some books that help you travel among the stars or journey to distant worlds beyond earth.
The Martian by Andy Weir
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be stranded on a desert island? Well Andy Weir’s survival comedy The Martian explores this fear on an ‘island’ a little further away from home. Botanist Mark Watney is left behind on Mars during a NASA mission and works to survive while everyone back on earth figures out how to bring him home.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Told over 24 hours on the International Space Station, six astronauts reflect on humanity as they look down on earth while orbiting above the planet.
Borrow the book from the library.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Read
Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin as she is selected to join NASA’s space shuttle programme. This fast-paced fun novel will be a hit for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s other books.
Borrow the book from the library.
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
Chris Hadfield spent years training to become an astronaut. In this memoir, Hadfield brings readers along his journey into space and what it has taught him about life.
Borrow the book from the library.
Dune by Frank Herbert
One of the best-selling Science-Fiction titles of all time, Herbert’s Dune, grapples with Machiavellian intrigue, the environment, politics and mythology.
Borrow the book from the library.
A City on Mars: can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through? By Kelly and Zach Weinersimth
Ever wonder if living on another planet would be possible? Kelly and Zach Weinersmith ponder this question when they work through all the questions human civilizations might have for moving to Mars.