Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars.
At Hell’s absolute center, Satan is frozen in ice, a grotesque parody of the Trinity with three faces. Virgil and Dante climb down Satan’s body, pass the center of gravity, and emerge on the other side of the earth. After the longest night, they see stars again — the first step toward Purgatory.
Each cantica of the Comedy ends with the word "stars." After traversing all of Hell, Dante emerges into the open air and starlight.