Lot 4057* - A209 Out of This World - lundi, 17. juin 2024, 16h00
MOON METEORITE
Ajdabiya, Libya, 2021
Classification made by: Dr Antony Irving, University of Washington
2182 g
10 × 6.5 × 21 cm (measurements not including stand)
The Moon's mysterious allure has captivated humanity for millennia, inspiring a rich cultural and symbolic tradition while also playing a crucial role in shaping Earth's environment. Its gravitational influence moderates our planet's axial tilt, resulting in a relatively stable climate, and generates tides that have guided humans and animals since ancient times.
Centuries of scientific inquiry have been devoted to unravelling the Moon's nature and origins. The current scientific consensus suggests that it formed as a result of a cataclysmic collision between Earth and a protoplanet roughly the size of Mars. The debris ejected from this collision merged in the orbit around Earth, eventually forming the Moon as we know it today.
But how do meteorites from the Moon find their way to Earth's surface?
When asteroids impact the lunar surface, fragments of the Moon are ejected into space. After traversing the vast expanse of our Milky Way galaxy for thousands of years, these lunar specimens occasionally reach Earth. However, lunar meteorites are exceedingly rare, constituting less than 0.1% of all recovered meteorites, which means that the combined mass of moon meteorites ever to be found on earth equates to around 150 kilograms in total.
Identification of lunar meteorites is made possible through the meticulous analysis of their elemental and isotopic composition, which closely match those of samples collected by NASA astronauts, surface landers, and rovers.
The specimen presented here is particularly remarkable, being of exceptionally elegant shape and weighing over 2 kilograms. Its distinctive features include closely packed, unusually large, angular, light-grey lithic clasts (up to 2 cm) within a sparse, dark, fine-grained matrix. The intricate details and fascinating surface characteristics make it one of the most exquisite Moon meteorites ever to be discovered.
As humanity embarks on a new mission to return to the Moon, more than five decades after Apollo 17's historic landing, acquiring this meteorite offers a unique opportunity to connect with our celestial neighbour in a profound and tangible way.
A REAL PIECE OF THE MOON
GIANT LUNAR METEORITE
This moon meteorite of over 2 kilos is a rare and fascinating piece of Earth's only natural satellite.
CHF 60 000 / 80 000 | (€ 61 860 / 82 470)
Vendu pour CHF 175 000 (frais inclus)
Aucune responsabilité n'est prise quant à l´exactitude de ces informations.