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A 13.5-kilogram piece of the moon which fell on earth is up for sale for at over 500 million Malawian Kwacha. The lunar meteorite, known as NWA 12691, fell on earth in a meteor shower and was found two years ago in the Sahara Desert.
According to a report by CNN, the rock was the fifth-largest piece of the moon on earth and anyone with money could buy it immediately.
“There aren’t even a handful of larger lunar meteorites: this is the fifth largest known. Nothing brought back by the Apollo Missions is as large,”
“It is really an incredible opportunity to acquire a world class specimen from the moon,” James Hyslop, Christie’s Head of Science and Natural History said.
Christie’s said the rock was probably knocked off the moon’s surface by a collision with an asteroid or a comet and it had to travel at least 239,000 miles through space before falling to earth in a fiery meteor shower.
About 30 meteorites from the shower were found in Northwest Africa and Christie’s was also offering for private sale a group of 13 aesthetic iron meteorites.
Hyslop said he was lucky to have to handle a few lunar meteorites at Christie’s over the years. “I’ve been lucky enough to handle a few lunar meteorites at Christie’s over the years, but every time I see this specimen in the warehouse the sheer size of it bowls me over.
“Weighing over 13.5kg, it is so much larger than anything else that has ever been offered before. The experience of holding a piece of another world in your hands is something you never forget.”
