In Medieval Europe, they believed that the planets, the stars, were all in crystalline shells rotating through the heavens. I love that famous engraving of the fellow poking through one of them to see what's on the other side.

There's another story I'm reminded of: Carl Jung, in the Preface to one of his books - the only thing of his I ever read! - relates an out of body experience he had, where he was viewing the Earth from orbit...

The sky, untouchable as it is, does look down on our hopes and confusion. It's a big job, and our sky was quite brave to volunteer.