Exploring Other Planets in the Tolkien Universe

Author J.R.R. Tolkien's works are primarily set in the Middle-earth, a devastated and enchanted land. However, in some of his letters and lesser-known writings, he did hint at a broader universe beyond Arda, suggesting the possibility of other planets and worlds. Let's dive into the speculative exploration of other planets in Tolkien's universe.

Arda: A Unique World

Arda, the primary world of Middle-earth, is not the only world in Tolkien's expansive cosmology. According to Tolkien, Arda could be just one of many worlds created by Eru Ilúvatar, the overarching figure in Tolkien's mythology. In his universe, 'E' is the term for the totality of all existence, often referred to as 'The World' with capital letters, denoting its grandeur and significance.

Arda itself, which includes Middle-earth, is the second world, created after primeval spirits and filled with flat lands. Interestingly, Arda was initially 'flat but globed in the void' at the beginning, but it was ultimately reshaped by Ilúvatar into a spherical form during the Second Age.

The Stars and Celestial Bodies

The stars in Tolkien's universe are described by elves as points of light in the sky. While Ilúvatar is believed to have created the stars in their original form, Varda, the wife of Manw?, added more stars after the breaking of the Lamps by Melkor to provide light to the awakening Elves. Some stars and planets identified by the elves have analogs to real-world celestial bodies. For example, the star Erendil is said to represent Venus, but it is also the name of Elrond's father and the light from his mithril ship, carrying a Silmaril.

Speculation and the Quest for Scientific Realism

At the end of his life, Tolkien envisioned rebooting his entire mythology to make it more scientifically realistic. In his outline for this new version, titled 'Myths Transformed,' Tolkien suggested that the universe could be much larger. The Sun would always be a star and would exist from the dawn of time, making the universe more akin to a scientifically plausible cosmos. He even speculated that other Ainur (the junior angelic spirits) might have gone to other worlds and established their own courts of Valar (the angelic powers) and might have their own forms of flora and fauna.

The Possibility of Other Worlds

The question of whether there could be other inhabited worlds in the universe comes into play. Tolkien's primary world, Earth, is known to be the only known planet with life, much like Arda, which is the only known planet with life as we know it. However, the idea of other planets being capable of supporting life is not entirely out of the question.

The Valar, who are the gods and angels of the world, were known to be in Arda during its early stages. If there is a reason for the existence of Ea (the totality of all existence), then there is a chance that something else is out there. Tolkien's evolving ideas suggest that the universe could be much larger and more diverse than the viewers of his stories might have imagined.

While Tolkien did not explicitly write about other planets, his concepts offer a rich foundation for imagination. His stories leave room for speculation, inviting readers to ponder the vastness of the universe and the possibility that other planets could exist and be inhabited.