The UK's Stuart Atkinson, a writer and astronomy outreach educator, maintains Astropoetry, a unique site dedicated to poetry that includes space, astronomy and exploration as a central theme. Stu says that the site is a venue for his efforts at creating poetry that "reflects the beauty of the universe and our achievements in exploring and understanding it, and our place in it."

We were delighted earlier today when he published 600 Frame Flypast to honour Mars Express and the VMC video that went live earlier this week. An extract:

Of its ancient rusted rocks, Everest-mocking
Volcanoes and Grand Canyon-shaming vales…
But today we watched it wax and wane
Through VMC, Mars Express’ smallest eye
And sighed, wishing we were there

Thanks, Stu, for a really terrific poem!

Read Stuart's full poem here, at Astropoetry: http://astropoetry.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/600-frame-flypast/