A Slice of the Moon for Sale: Just $2.5 Million

A Slice of the Moon for Sale: Just $2.5 Million
An undated picture shows a moon rock in an unknown location. (Christie's Images LTD/Handout/Reuters)
Reuters
4/29/2020
Updated:
4/29/2020

One of the world’s largest lunar meteorites goes on private sale at Christie’s on April 30, valued at £2 million ($2.49 million).

The moon rock, weighing about 30 lbs, was probably struck off the surface of the moon by a collision with an asteroid or comet and then showered down on the Sahara desert.

Known as NWA 12691, it is thought to be the fifth largest piece of the moon ever found on earth. There are only 1,400 lbs of moon rock known to be on earth.

An undated picture shows a moon rock in an unknown location. (Christie's Images LTD/Handout/Reuters)
An undated picture shows a moon rock in an unknown location. (Christie's Images LTD/Handout/Reuters)

“The experience of holding a piece of another world in your hands is something you never forget,” said James Hyslop, Christie’s head of science and natural history.

“It is an actual piece of the moon. It is about the size of a football, a bit more oblong than that, larger than your head.”

Like many meteorites that are discovered, it was found in the Sahara by an anonymous finder, then changed hands.

Scientists can be certain that it is from the moon after comparing it with rock samples brought back by the United States’ Apollo space missions to the moon.

“In the 1960s and 1970s the Apollo programme brought back about 400 kilograms (880 lbs) of moon rock with them and scientists have been able to analyse the chemical and isotopic compositions of those rocks and they have determined that they match certain meteorites,” said Hyslop.

An undated picture shows a moon rock in an unknown location. (Christie's Images LTD/Handout/Reuters)
An undated picture shows a moon rock in an unknown location. (Christie's Images LTD/Handout/Reuters)

Meteorites are incredibly rare and only about one in a thousand comes from the moon, making this a very special object, he added.

“We are expecting huge international interest in it from natural history museums. ... It is a wonderful trophy for anyone who is interested in space history or lunar exploration.”

The moon has fascinated man since the dawn of human history as a symbol of power, love, time, and prosperity, and is the earth’s only natural satellite. It is thought to have been formed 4.5 billion years ago when a Mars-sized body collided with earth.

Christie’s will also offer for private sale a group of 13 aesthetic iron meteorites. That collection is estimated to be worth £1.4 million ($1.7 million).

By Guy Faulconbridge, Mike Davidson and Sarah Mills