Brian May: 19th July

Brian May (born 1947) as a rock guitarist, composer and practicing astronomer.

May at Johns Hopkins University on 31 December 2018
before the New Horizons flyby of a Kuiper belt object.

From childhood, May was interested in both astronomy and playing guitar. May attended Imperial College, studying mathematics and physics among other subjects, and was graduated with an upper second-class degree. The physics was clearly leading to astronomy. On October 24, 1968, May received his bachelor’s degree in physics from the Queen Mother at the Royal Albert Hall. Two days later, his band Smile picked up considerable steam by opening for Pink Floyd.

While working as a researcher at Imperial, May formed a new band with a Freddie Bulsara, called Queen, while Freddie change is name to Mercury. May gave up his astronomy doctorate in 1974 and toured and composed with Queen and collaborated with other musicians in the 80's and 90's.

In 2006 he re-registered for his doctorate at Imperial College and after a review of the field in the 33 years since he quit was awarded a PhD. As well as continuing his music career, he has carried out a number of projects and been a spokes person for NASA and ESA projects.

Information from astonomy.com