There Is Now a Constellation in David Bowie’s Honor
David Bowie now has his very own constellation. Following the legend’s death last week, Belgian astronomers looked to the night sky for a fitting tribute. They found a cluster of stars in the shape of Ziggy Stardust’s face-bolt and, naturally, christened is ‘Starman.’
Those star-gazers weren’t just avowed Bowie fans, but astronomers belonging to MIRA Public Observatory, working at the behest of the radio station Studio Brussels. “It was not easy to determine the appropriate stars,” MIRA’s Philippe Mollet explained in a statement. “Studio Brussels asked us to give Bowie a unique place in the galaxy. 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. The constellation is a copy of the iconic Bowie lightning and was recorded at the exact time of his death.”
Further, the interactive Google Sky initiative Stardust for Bowie allows fans to create personal tributes within the constellation’s borders, either naming a favorite song or leaving a short message in remembrance.
In other Bowie naming news, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has proclaimed January 20 as David Bowie Day.