Are moon rocks safe to touch?

A geologist would classify it as a dense, aphanitic basalt. To visitors, however, it is one of the most popular objects in the National Air and Space Museum. “It” is the lunar Touch Rock, one of only three samples returned by the Apollo astronauts that the public is allowed to feel with their bare hands.

Is it illegal to own a rock from the moon?

Although NASA’s lunar missions returned more than 842 pounds of moon rock to Earth, it is illegal for private citizens to own any of it (lunar meteorites, however, are perfectly legal). Instead, lunar samples were used as goodwill gifts to 135 countries and each of the 50 states.

What type of rock was brought back from the moon by the Apollo astronauts?

basalts
The basalts found at the Apollo 11 landing site are generally similar to basalts on Earth and are composed primarily of the minerals pyroxene and plagioclase.

How old are the moon rocks brought back to Earth by Apollo astronauts?

This collision formed a huge debris cloud around Earth that over eons coalesced into our moon. The newly theorized lunar age of 4.51 billion years, however, came after the team reanalyzed samples brought back by Apollo astronauts around 50 years ago.

Can you touch a moon rock at Kennedy Space Center?

Authentic artifacts and engaging exhibits showcase the innovation of NASA’s Moon landing missions. Touch the Moon! Walk on our projected Moon surface and watch as your feet leave footprints behind you. Plus, touch an actual Moon rock – a sample brought back to Earth from Apollo 17.

Can I buy a real moon rock?

It is illegal for private citizens to own or buy any authentic Moon Rocks or related material. Lunar samples obtained on Earth through findings of crashed lunar meteorites are legal. You can’t buy moon rocks but you can buy meteorites.

Can I buy a moon rock?

Are Moon Rocks radioactive?

Radioactive iron in moon rocks collected by astronauts on NASA’s Apollo missions suggests that a nearby supernova blasted Earth a few million years ago, according to a new study.

How many samples did Apollo bring back from the Moon?

Between 1969 and 1972 six Apollo missions brought back 382 kilograms (842 pounds) of lunar rocks, core samples, pebbles, sand and dust from the lunar surface. The six space flights returned 2200 separate samples from six different exploration sites on the Moon.

What did the Apollo astronauts leave behind on the Moon?

By the time NASA’s Apollo Program came to a close in December 1972, six crews of astronauts, six Apollo command modules, and more than 800 pounds of Moon rocks and lunar soil had been brought back to Earth. But some things were intentionally left behind. Image to left: The Eagle has landed.

What tools did the Apollo 11 astronauts use on the Moon?

The missions that followed Apollo 11 were far more aggressive, returning a wide variety of Moon rock samples, effectively opening a window into lunar geology. From the outset, the Apollo astronauts used a variety of tools to collect their samples, including rakes, tongs, and scoops.

How much did the Apollo program bring back to Earth?

By the time NASA’s Apollo Program came to a close in December 1972, six crews of astronauts, six Apollo command modules, and more than 800 pounds of Moon rocks and lunar soil had been brought back to Earth.