These are high-quality hardback science-themed notebooks, A5 size, with 192 pages. There are currently 18 different designs, one for each of the major sciences. Here we spotlight the “Astronomy” and “Space Exploration” versions.

Each notebook is handmade in the UK by the small independent company, “Atoms to Astronauts”. This was set up by chemistry teacher, Damian Hardacre, who decided to design a notebook that reflected his passion for science during the coronavirus lockdown.

The two main selling points are the line drawing designs on the covers and endpapers, and the high-quality, thick paper. This paper is 100 gsm off-white, “fountain pen friendly” for enhanced ink bleed-through resistance. The manufacturer notes that they use locally-made paper from sustainably managed forests and also donate to the Woodland Trust Carbon Capture Programme.

There are four paper styles available: Blank, 8mm lined, 5mm grid squares or 5mm dot grid. Note that the pages are not numbered, which some might have found helpful. Satin ribbon markers and rounded corners provide a definite quality statement, and all notebooks have thread-sewn binding that will allow them to lie fully flat on a desktop when open.

Space Collection designs:

Astronomy: White line on black cover featuring images from Galileo's Sidereus Nuncius (1610) and Copernicus' De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (1543).

Space Exploration: A best-seller with designs in white line on dark “blueprint” blue. Images include the original equations and writings of Katherine Johnson overlaid with NASA's technical drawings of rockets, probes and flight paths. One of these was bought by a NASA employee and taken on tour!