Astronomers give David Bowie his own constellation

By: Yuji Vincent Gonzales - 9 years ago

Floral tributes lay beside a mural of British singer David Bowie by artist Jimmy C in Brixton, south London, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. David Bowie, the iconic and shape-shifting British singer whose illustrious career lasted five decade with hits like “Fame,” ”Heroes” and “Let’s Dance,” died Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 69. The singer, who was born David Jones at the family home in the Brixton area of London, came of age in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. AP Photo

Belgian astronomers have registered a lightning bolt-shaped constellation as a tribute to iconic British singer David Bowie, who passed away last week at the age of 69 after battling with cancer.

READ: Iconic singer David Bowie dies at 69

According to a report from The Guardian, Bowie’s constellation was located in the vicinity of Mars.

The report said that the Belgian radio station Studio Brussel and the MIRA public observatory coordinated to register the constellation.

MIRA Observatory’s Philippie Mollet was quoted as saying that “it was not easy to determine the appropriate stars” for Bowie’s constellation.

“Referring to his various albums, we chose seven stars — Sigma Librae, Spica, Alpha Virginis, Zeta Centauri, SAA 204 132, and the Beta Sigma Octantis Trianguli Australis — in the vicinity of Mars,” Mollet said.

“The constellation is a copy of the iconic Bowie lightning and was recorded at the exact time of his death,” he added.

Bowie, known for his persona “Ziggy Stardust,” appeared on the cover of his 1973 album “Aladdin Sane” with an iconic lightning bolt painted on his face.