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A 12-pound (5.5 kilograms) lunar meteorite discovered in Northwest Africa in 2017 rests on a table, in Amherst, NH The rock, which is actually composed of six fragments that fit together like a puzzle, was found last year in a remote area of Mauritania, but may have plunged to Earth thousands of years ago. The meteorite could sell for $ 500,000 or more at an online auction that runs from Thursday, Oct. 11, until Oct. 18, 2018. (Rodrique Ngowi / Associated Press)
BOSTON – Anyone who can not make it to the moon to gather a few lunar rocks now.
A 12-pound (5.5 kilogram) lunar meteorite discovered in Northwest Africa last year is up for auction by Boston-based RR Auction and could sell for $ 500,000 or more during online bidding that runs from Thursday until Oct. 18.
It is "one of the most important meteorites available for acquisition anywhere in the world today," and one of the biggest pieces of the moon ever put up for sale, RR said.
The rock classified as NWA 11789, also known as "Buagaba," was found last year in a remote area of Mauritania but probably plunged to Earth thousands of years ago.
The meteorite is actually composed of six fragments that fit together like a puzzle. The largest of those pieces weighs about 6 pounds.
Most famous golfers, said Geoff Notkin, star of television's "Meteorite Men" and CEO of Aerolite Meteorites, which is selling the rock.
"As soon as we saw this, we knew it was extraordinarily unusual," he said. "This is close to a life in a lifetime."
It is also known as "partial fusion crust," caused by the tremendous heat that sears the rock as it descends through the atmosphere.
"It actually toasted on the outside," Notkin said.
Another thing that makes it different from most meteorites is that it is "unpaired." and perhaps more valuable to science.
The meteorite would be a nice addition to any natural history museum, but Robert Livingston, RR's executive vice president, said.
"This is the only way a private collector can get their hands on a piece of the moon because the United States government property," he said.
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