Starman David Bowie is given his own constellation by astronomers

The constellation is in the "vicinity of Mars"
http://www.stardustforbowie.be/
Mark Chandler18 January 2016

David Bowie has been given his own seven-star constellation which shines in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Following his death last week, Belgian radio station Studio Brussels teamed up with the country's MIRA Public Observatory for a stellar tribute to the Starman singer.

The constellation pays homage to the front cover of Bowie’s 1973 record Aladdin Sane in which he had a red and blue lightning bolt painted on his face.

Philippe Mollet from the MIRA Observatory said the constellation was fittingly located near Mars.

David Bowie - in pictures

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He said: “It was not easy to determine the appropriate stars. 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.”

The constellation is linked to the Stardust for Bowie project on Google Sky which allows fans to create a personal tribute by assigning a song to each star.

Tributes have poured in from across the globe after Bowie died on January 10 following a secret 18-month battle with cancer.

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