The International Astronomical Union said Mercury was given the honor because ‘his distinctive sound and large vocal range were hallmarks of his performance style, and he is regarded as one of the greatest rock singers of all time’. The gesture, however, is poignant. “You need a pretty decent telescope to see it”, May, who has a doctorate in astrophysics, explains in the YouTube video. However, although it may be “just a dot of light”, as he points out, it is now “a very special dot of light”.
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Mercury, whose real name was Farrokh Bulsara, formed Queen with May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon in 1971, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Luckily, the “Don’t Stop Me Now” parallel is limited, as Freddiemercury is not “on a collision course”. The asteroid is in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, so you can’t get a very good look at it from Earth.
“Space rocks are often named after scientists or its discoverer but in celebration of Freddie Mercury’s 70th birthday, a “rockstar” asteroid will be named after him and it will be called ‘Freddiemercury”.
Watch here for more information and to see Mercury’s asteroid in orbit.
May filmed himself announcing the jubilant news during the asteroid-naming event in Switzerland on Sunday, which coincided with the day Mercury should have celebrated his 70th birthday.
May said the honour marked ‘Freddie’s outstanding influence in the world. Mercury died in November of 1991, the same time that Belgian astronomer Henri Debehogne discovered the asteroid.
“Even if you can’t see Freddiemercury leaping through the sky, you can be sure he’s there – ‘floating around in ecstasy, ‘ as he might sing, for millennia to come”, Parker said.
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There’s now two “mercury” roaming in space.
