Hidden talent of the Famous: Queen band's guitarist Brian May, a PhD in astrophysics, helped NASA in its first mission to the Pluto

For millions of fans, Brian May is the legendary guitarist behind Queen's biggest rock anthems. From unforgettable solos to chart-topping hits alongside Freddie Mercury, his place in music history is well established. But away from the concert stage, May has built an equally remarkable reputation in a completely different field. The rock icon is also a qualified astrophysicist who has worked with NASA, contributed to one of humanity's most important space missions and helped create the first high-quality 3D image of Pluto.

His unusual journey from rock star to scientist has made him one of the few public figures to achieve worldwide recognition in both music and space research.

From building a telescope to earning a PhD

Brian May's love for science began long before Queen became one of the world's biggest bands. Growing up in a working-class family in London, he developed an interest in astronomy at a young age and even built his own telescope.


According to National Geographic interview, his passion for creating things did not stop there. Together with his father, May also built the now-famous Red Special electric guitar, the instrument that would later become synonymous with Queen's signature sound.



In 1968, May completed his bachelor's degree in physics. Just two days later, he was already performing on stage with his band as they opened for Pink Floyd, showing how closely his interests in science and music were connected from the very beginning.

As Queen's popularity exploded during the 1970s, May made a difficult decision. He paused his doctoral research in astrophysics in 1974 to focus entirely on the band's growing success. Over the following decades, Queen became one of the biggest rock bands in history, with May co-founding the group alongside Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor.

During his career with Queen, May wrote several of the band's most memorable songs, including We Will Rock You, The Show Must Go On and Fat Bottomed Girls. His distinctive guitar style helped define the band's sound and earned him recognition as one of rock music's greatest guitarists.

Despite his musical success, May never abandoned his interest in astronomy. More than three decades after putting his studies on hold, he returned to Imperial College London and successfully completed his PhD in astrophysics in 2007.

How Brian May helped NASA explore Pluto

May's scientific expertise eventually led him to NASA's historic New Horizons mission, which carried out humanity's first close flyby of Pluto in July 2015.

Serving as a Science Team Collaborator, May used his knowledge of stereoscopic photography to process images captured by the spacecraft. His work resulted in the first high-quality 3D stereo image of Pluto, giving scientists and the public a new way to experience the distant dwarf planet.

Looking back on the mission, May described watching the spacecraft's data arrive as one of the greatest experiences of his life. He recalled that Pluto had appeared as nothing more than a tiny white dot when he was growing up. Seeing it transformed into a detailed three-dimensional world was, according to him, an unforgettable moment that ranked among the most exciting achievements of his career.

The mission itself marked a major milestone in space exploration, and May's contribution became an important part of bringing Pluto's landscape to life for audiences around the world.

A rare career balancing music and science

Brian May's achievements extend well beyond Queen and NASA. Alongside his work in astronomy, he is also a passionate animal welfare campaigner and has written several books on space science.

One of his recent works is an atlas of the asteroid Bennu, which features stereoscopic photography, combining his lifelong interests in astronomy and imaging technology.

Today, May continues to tour with Queen while remaining active in scientific research and public outreach. His career proves that success in one field does not have to come at the expense of another.

Few people have managed to build two world-class careers in completely different disciplines. Brian May is one of those rare exceptions. Whether performing before thousands of fans or helping scientists better understand the solar system, he has shown that curiosity and determination can open doors far beyond a single profession.