Lightning bolt 'constellation' registered in tribute to 'Starman' David Bowie

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Tuesday, January 19, 2016
A composite image featuring a sketch of Bowie and an outline of his constellation was released by the organizations that registered the stars.
DDB Brussels/ Studio Brussel/MIRA Public Observatory

Talk about a star-studded tribute. David Bowie's memory will shine a little brighter now, thanks to a new lightning bolt-shaped 'constellation' created in his honor.

The Belgian public observatory MIRA and the music station Studio Brussel registered the seven star grouping, which includes Sigma Librae, Spica, Alpha Virginis, Zeta Centauri, SAA 204 132, and the Beta Sigma Octantis Trianguli Australis. The lightning bolt shape is a nod to Bowie's 1973 album Aladdin Sane.

Following news of the star grouping, the observatory has clarified that it is not technically a constellation, but rather an asterism, which refers to the lines connecting the stars.

The tribute was inspired by Bowie's own affinity for space, according to a press release from the advertising agency DDB. Many of Bowie's best-known songs, including "Starman" and "Space Oddity," are inspired by the stars and space.

"Bowie had a special fondness for everything that had to do with the universe," reads the release. "Ziggy Stardust, the album that was both commercially and artistically one of his greatest achievements, characterized him even as an extra-terrestrial rock star."

Fans can create their own Bowie tribute by requesting a song to play or leaving a message about Bowie on the Stardust for Bowie website. The constellation has been recreated on the website, and each interaction registers a luminescent dot inside of the lightning bolt, so the more people that visit the site, the brighter the constellation shines. Fans can share their tribute on social media.

Bowie passed away Jan. 10 from cancer. He released his final album, Blackstar, just two days before his death. It debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart, making it his first number one album in the U.S.

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