{"id":63292,"date":"2021-06-10T17:27:35","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T21:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/?post_type=news&p=63292"},"modified":"2022-03-21T09:26:30","modified_gmt":"2022-03-21T13:26:30","slug":"new-lunar-exhibit-mysteries-of-the-moon","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/news\/new-lunar-exhibit-mysteries-of-the-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"New Lunar Exhibit: Mysteries of the Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rachel Smith, head of Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab and curator of meteorites and
\nMicah Beasley, PR & Marketing Coordinator<\/em><\/p>\n

\"LunarThe Mysteries of the Moon exhibit at the Museum’s downtown Raleigh location.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our Moon is more than 238,000 miles from Earth, and now a small piece of it is on display at the Museum’s downtown Raleigh location on the third floor of the Nature Research Center (NRC).<\/p>\n

Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Rachel Smith, the head of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab and curator of meteorites, the Museum has recently purchased a lunar meteorite known as NWA 11474. The new lunar meteorite was found in Northwest Africa in 2017, and was purchased in mid-2020 for the Museum\u2019s collection with funds made possible through the J. Donald Cline Meteorite Collection Endowment.<\/p>\n

Lunar meteorites provide us with valuable information about parts of the Moon that humans have not yet visited, and help us understand early solar system history. Without access to these specimens, scientists would only be able to study a small portion of the lunar surface.<\/p>\n

\"KidsMuseum guests are already enjoying the lunar exhibit. Plan your visit today!<\/span><\/p>\n

Located just outside the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab, NWA 11474 forms part of a newly-installed display entitled, “Mysteries of the Moon.” The display invites guests to think about how lunar samples help us better understand our closest celestial neighbor.<\/p>\n

In addition to the new meteorite, this display includes a video that takes visitors to the Apollo 17 landing site and follows rover trails to the general region where astronauts collected lunar samples, including the historic small rock also on display below the video. While NASA is making plans to return to the lunar surface, this 1972 mission was the last time humans set foot on the Moon.<\/p>\n