The renowned Christie's auction house is now hosting an online-only auction of meteorites from the Moon, Mars, and the deepest reaches of space.
"Deep Impact: Martian, Lunar, and Other Rare Meteorites," which runs Feb. 9-23, follows a streak of record-breaking meteorite auctions in 2021.
James Hyslop, Christie's Director of Science and Natural History, said in a Fortune report that the sale's predecessor, conducted around this time last year, was a "white glove" sale. They sold every single lot, with 72 out of 75 objects selling beyond their high estimate. Hyslop noted the record-breaking sale.
Following that, a chunk of the Fukang meteorite sold for $722,925 at Christie's London in July, setting a public auction record for a single item.
Journalists took pictures of Poland's largest meteorite, weighing about 300 kg, in Poznan, on October 31, 2012. The meteorite was discovered on October 25 in Meteorite Reserve on the outskirts of the western city of Poznan by Magdalena Skirzewska and Lukasz Smula, two geologists from the Silesian city of Opole.
Christie's Sells Meteorites From Moon, Mars, Beyond Outer Space
Christie's has launched bidding on a collection of unusual meteorites from the Moon, Mars, and the furthest reaches of space if you've ever desired something special in your home.
The "Deep Impact" collection includes 66 space objects that have all collided with Earth at some time in our planet's history. Most are still in their original state, but some, like this beautiful Seymchan sphere, have been sculpted by terrestrial artisans to enhance its artistic worth.
The third-largest item of Martian rock on Earth (estimated value $500k-$800k), the Aguas Zargas doghouse and related meteorite, a piece of the Moon that was pummeled off during some impact eons ago, and an intriguing piece of impact glass formed when a meteorite hit the Sahara Desert roughly 29 million years ago are all notable (and naturally among the most expensive) items in the lot.
Hyslop also explained to Forbes that the meteorite belongs to the landowner where it was discovered. It varies depending on the nation. As a result, collectors should check with local authorities before collecting specimens. The golden rule is to only do it from a reputable source when purchasing meteorites, experts suggested.
Auctioning Meteorites, Space-Themed Items Not The First Time
Since starting separate space-themed sales in 2014, Christie's has gone from a selling total of $634,375 to a record-breaking auction last year of $4,351,750, according to Hyslop. Christie's also set a world record for a meteorite at auction ($722,925) last year.
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This is undoubtedly due to increased space activities, such as SpaceX's starship and space tourism flights. It has also reached popular culture, which is event in Netflix's recent film "Don't Look Up." This particular lot is named Deep Impact, after a 1998 sci-fi film about a massive meteor strike.
Christie's also tried to sell a piece of the moon larger than all the rocks brought back to Earth by the Apollo astronauts.
The NWA 12691 lunar meteorite is the name given to a lunar meteorite that fell to Earth during a meteor shower. According to a press release, the meteorite was discovered two years ago in the Sahara Desert.
Christie's said the cost of purchasing this moon rock is $2.5 million. Unlike the other things in the auction, this item is on a private sale, which means that anyone with precisely $2.5 million to spare can purchase it right away.
According to the statement, the moon rock weighs little under 30 pounds and is the fifth-largest part of the moon found on Earth.
Previous lunar meteorites sold might fit in your hand, but this one is ten times larger. It is the first meteorite of that size to be sold, he added.
According to Hyslop, only a few moon meteorites exist, and the said meteorite is the fifth biggest known meteorite in the world. Even the Apollo Mission, according to James Hyslop, did not carry something as enormous.
It's also a fantastic chance, according to Hyslop, to be able to get this world-class specimen from the moon.
Christie's lunar meteorites are very uncommon, with just 1,443 pounds known to exist on Earth. Of course, they are the ones that humans discovered.
RELATED ARTICLE: Lunar Meteorites For Sale: Fifth Largest Moon Rock Found on Earth Up For Grabs For $2.5 Million
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