David Bowie Honoured With Aladdin Sane Lightning Bolt Star Constellation

A star constellation in the shape of a lightning bolt has been named after David Bowie.

Comprising seven stars, the constellation is located near Mars and is shaped to mirror the lightning bolt on the cover of Bowie’s 1973 album Aladdin Sane.

The constellation was registered as a tribute to the late singer by the MIRA Public Observatory in Belgium and local radio station Radio Brussels.

Philippe Mollet of the MIRA Public Observatory said: “It was not easy to determine the appropriate stars. Studio Brussels asked us to give Bowie a unique place in the galaxy.

Aladdin Sane was the follow-up to 1972′s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (RCA)

“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”.

The influence of space is apparent in much of Bowie’s work including his songs Space Oddity, Starman, Life on Mars? and Hallo Spaceboy, along with his alter-ego Ziggy Stardust and his film role as The Man Who Fell To Earth.

The new constellation is linked to an ongoing tribute called Stardust For Bowie on Google Sky, which encourages fans to leave a personal tribute in the shape of a star along with their favourite song.

Bowie passed away last week, aged 69, following an 18-month battle with cancer.

His final album, Blackstar, was released two days before his death and has been described by his long-time collaborator and producer Tony Visconti as a ‘parting gift’ for fans.

Image credit: Studio Brussels