Asteroid Named ‘Freddie Mercury’ on Singer’s 70th Birthday
To mark what would have been Freddie Mercury's 70th birthday, Queen guitarist Brian May announced that an asteroid has been named after the singer.
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An asteroid orbiting around Mars and Jupiter has been named after the legendary frontman from Queen as announced by Freddie’s bandmate, guitarist and actual astrophysicist Brian May on September 4, a day before Freddie’s supposed 70th birthday.
"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 honor his 70th Birthday," May said in a statement. "Henceforth this object will be known as Asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury."
May teamed with the International Astronomical Union to reveal Freddie's asteroid at a Montreux, Switzerland celebration for Freddie, who died in November 1991, roughly around the time the asteroid was first discovered.
READ: Artist of the Week: Freddie Mercury
May said, "Where is Freddie’s Asteroid? It's in the main Asteroid Belt, out between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and is about 3 and a half km across. It's like a cinder in space as many of these asteroids are. You need a pretty decent telescope to see it. It’s just a dot of light but it’s a very special dot of light and maybe one day we'll get there."
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