Asteroid named after Queen Star’s Freddie Mercury
To mark Freddie Mercury’s 70th birthday yesterday, September 5, the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Centre, a shooting star has been named after the Queen lead singer.
Discovered in 1991, in which also the year Mercury died, Asteroid ‘1991 FM3’ is now officially declared as ‘Asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury.’
(Image grabbed from heart.co.uk)
The news was shared by Queen Guitarist Brian May, who has a doctorate in astrophysics from Imperial College, during a party in Switzerland.
“I’m happy to be able to announce that the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center has today designated Asteroid 17473, discovered 1991, in Freddie’s name, timed to honour his 70th birthday,” said May.
“Henceforth this object will be known as Asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury. This announcement is to recognise Freddie’s outstanding influence in the world. It’s a dark object – rather like a cinder in space. Viewed from the Earth it is more than 10,000 times fainter than you can see by eye, so you need a fair-sized telescope to see it and that’s why it wasn’t discovered until 1991.”
He also stated that the newly named asteroid is “just a dot of light, but it’s a very special dot of light” and recognizes Mercury’s musical and performing talents.
(Image grabbed from telegraph.co.uk)
Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara on Sept. 5, 1946, is the legendary singer who wrote and performed hits including “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Are the Champions” with Queen, releasing over a dozen studio albums between 1973 and 1991.
Source: dailymail.co.uk, news.nationalpost.com, telegraph.co.uk
