Brian May, best known as the lead guitarist of the iconic British rock band Queen, is set to co-author an asteroid atlas with astrophysicist Gianluca Masi called ‘The Planet-Hunter’s Guide to the Cosmos.’ May and Masi will join forces to curate a guide to asteroids, including their composition, features and what makes them unique.
The Atlas will draw from Masi’s long-running Vega Project (Visual and Electronic Astronomy Observations). The Vega project is a volunteer-driven project that uses robotic observatories to explore the Solar System. Masi will be in charge of the imaging sciences while May will be responsible for collecting and interpreting the data.
While this may seem like an unorthodox situation, it is not out of the ordinary as May is a long-time science enthusiast and astrophysicist. He joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Science Advisory Board in 2018 and even served as a consulting Queen on the set of 2019’s feature-length biopic‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
The collaboration between the two is the result of a strong friendship. The pair have been working together since 2016 when May became a visiting professor at Masi’s Virtual Telescope Project in Italy. He first began studying astrophysics and astronomy as Queen’s touring schedule relaxed in 2009, leading him to collaborations with NASA and earning him the honorary title of Doctor of Science from the University of Liverpool for his contribution to astrophysics.
The Atlas will guide amateur astronomers and planet hunters in exploring asteroids. It will be complemented by an online website that can be constantly updated with new information. As a tribute to May’s contribution to the project, an asteroid located in the main asteroid belt has been named Asteroid 52665 Brianmay.
By combining their talents, May and Masi have created a collaboration between music and science. Together, they will provide readers with an approachable way to explore the cosmos and discover the underground science world of asteroids.
