Asteroid for Mercury

When the Queen frontman sang "I’m a shooting star leaping through the sky” in the hit Don’t Stop Me Now little would he have known that to mark his 70th birth anniversary on September 5, 2016 his band guitarist Dr Brian May would announce that Asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury has been named in his honor. The International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Centre designated the asteroid in Jupiter’s orbit with an accompanying citation: "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.”

This asteroid was discovered in 1991, the year when Mercury, aged 45 years, succumbed to bronchial pneumonia, a complication resulting from AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). It was earlier given the provisional designation "1991 FM3.” After its position and orbit was measured over 1,100 times it was given the number 17473. "It is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) across and has a low albedo, 0.3, which means less than a third of the light that hits it is reflected,” reported MailOnline on September 6. "It’s just a dot of light, but it’s a very special dot of light,” confirmed May who has a doctorate in astrophysics. On his website, May elaborates that Mercury had "this amazing capacity…of going onto a stage and engaging people…making people excited…Every guy or girl at the back of Wembley Stadium when we played there in 1986 felt that he represented them and their dreams…Freddie was one million percent dedicated to his art… He loved creating himself as a musician.”
Although he never publicly acknowledged his Zoroastrian roots or Indian connections, the lead Queen singer was born Farrokh to Jer and Bomi Bulsara in Tanzania and later studied at St Peter’s School in Panchgani for some years. The family relocated to England thereafter and at his first home in 22 Gladstone Avenue, Feltham, west London, the "English Heritage Blue Plaque (EHBP)” was unveiled on September 1, 2016 by his sister Kashmira Cooke and May. The modest, inter-war terrace house in Feltham, now bears a prominent, circular, navy blue plaque instituted by English Heritage inscribed with the words "Freddie Mercury (Fred Bulsara) 1946-1991 Singer and Songwriter lived here.”
At the unveiling Cooke said, "Mum and I are so proud and pleased that English Heritage is honoring our Freddie with a Blue Plaque and that he will be amongst other famous names forever.” As revealed by Cooke, Freddie took an A-level in art at Isleworth Polytechnic followed by a diploma in Graphic Art and Design at the Ealing College of Art, supporting himself with a variety of jobs, including washing dishes in the kitchens at nearby Heathrow Airport. At home, he was always sketching for his college art work, and exploring his musical talent by listening to his hero Jimi Hendrix or watching Tom and Jerry cartoons or collecting cuttings of Andy Capp comic strips. He would spend hours grooming his hair, much to the sister’s annoyance as the house had only one bathroom!
It was while he resided here that he met May and Queen drummer Roger Taylor. Recalling their first interaction at this house, May stated, "We spent most of the day appreciating and analyzing in intimate detail the way that Jimi Hendrix had put his recordings together in the studio.”
As conveyed to the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) president Malcolm Deboo, the Bulsaras were the first Asian family to purchase a house in Gladstone Avenue in 1964. Sharing links of the unveiling with ZTFE members, Deboo attached a news report that mentioned that more than 900 plaques or memorial tablets have been unveiled across London. The first plaque was reportedly for the poet Lord Byron.
"English Heritage’s blue plaques celebrate the great men and women whose achievements endure and Freddie Mercury was certainly one of our greatest musical talents. He was truly a champion,” commented Sir Peter Bazalgate, panel member of EHBP. Also present at the unveiling was Karen Bradley, MP, secretary of state for culture, who regarded Mercury as "a global icon whose music touched the lives of millions of people around the world. I am delighted that one of Britain’s most influential musicians will be recognized through the Blue Plaque scheme – a small but important reminder to people of the impact he had both in London and well beyond.” While 2016 marks the 150th anniversary of the EHBP scheme, it coincides with yet another milestone — Mercury’s 25th death anniversary on November 24.