David Bowie honoured with lightning bolt constellation
by Kim Megson | 19 Jan 2016
David Bowie's constellation near Mars / Stardust for Bowie/Shutterstock/spatuletail
A Belgian radio station has teamed up with an observatory to design a unique tribute to David Bowie: his own constellation.
The British singer, who died on 10 January 2016 at the age of 69, was often inspired by space in his music; penning songs such as Life on Mars, Starman and Space Oddity and creating his own extraterrestrial alter-ego Ziggy Stardust and the recurring astronaut character Major Tom.
To celebrate Bowie’s legacy, radio station Studio Brussels and astronomers from the MIRA public observatory decided to register a constellation of seven stars that shine in the shape of a lightning bolt.
“We decided this iconic shape – from the cover of his Aladdin Sane album – should symbolically perpetuate in the stars close to Mars,” said the observatory's Phillip Mollet. “The process was a bit like making drawings at school by connecting numbered dots. None of this is official, it’s just a very symbolic tribute to a great artist.”
Eagle-eyed astronomers can find Bowie’s constellation by locating the stars Sigma Librae, Spica, Alpha Virginis, Zeta Centauri, SAA 204 132, and the Beta Sigma Octantis Trianguli Australis.
Bowie fans can interact directly with the constellation by visiting the website stardustforbowie.be. Here they are invited to pay tribute by clicking inside the constellation and leaving a short message and the name of their favourite Bowie song. Each message is represented by a new star, and the constellation shines brighter as more messages are left.
David Bowie design constellation space universe music tribute Brussels MIRA stars Ziggy Stardust Life on Mars
A Belgian radio station has teamed up with an observatory to design a unique tribute to David Bowie: his own constellation. The British singer, who died on 10 January 2016 at the age of 69, was often inspired by space in his music; penning songs such as Life on Mars, Starman and Space Oddity and creating his own extraterrestrial alter-ego Ziggy Stardust and the recurring astronaut character Major Tom. To
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