Deep Impact: Lunar and Rare Meteorites is the headline of Christie's auction featuring dozens of extraordinary extraterrestrial specimens being offered August 12-25, 2020. With estimates ranging from $500 to $500.000, there's sure to be something for every collector passionate.
Leading the sale is a sample of the Luna in the shape of the Moon (estimate: $300.000-500.000). Among the rarest objects on Earth, specimens from the Moon are identified by specific geological, mineralogical, chemical and radiation signatures. This sphere was fashioned from a lunar meteorite, a piece of the Moon ejected into space following an impact on the lunar surface. While not a milligram of the 400 kg of Apollo material is available for private ownership, some of the material returned to Earth by Apollo astronauts is remarkably similar to select lunar meteorites, including this offering. At 98mm (4 inches) in diameter, this captivating presentation of the Moon is, other than the Moon itself, the largest known lunar sphere. The sale also offers a smaller Moon Orb (estimate: $15.000-20.000) and an Extraterrestrial Gem Moon Jewel (estimate: $25.000-35.000).
Originating from the molten core of an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter, the Lake Murray meteorite has stayed on Earth longer than any other meteorite, and its crystalline pattern is among the most eye-catching. Offered here is a complete slab (estimate: $25.000-35.000) of this historic meteorite. Protected by a 6-inch sheath of iron shale, the Lake Murray mass was found in a layer of Antler Sandstone from the Early Cretaceous period (110 million years). Lake Murray landed on Earth more than a hundred million years before the first humans walked the Earth.
Containing gems from outer space, from the Collection of legendary meteorite hunter Robert Haag is a large partial chunk of the finest extraterrestrial substance known. Representing only 0,2% of all meteorites, pallasites are extremely exotic, and samples of the Esquel meteorite are the most coveted (estimate: $15.000-25.000). This specimen contains highly translucent olivine crystals ranging in hue from amber to emerald and also features gem-quality peridot, the semi-precious birthstone of August. The slice is eight inches wide.
Also in the sale is a massive Oriented Parabolic Heat Shield meteorite (estimate: $40.000-60.000). The heat shields for the first manned space capsules were inspired by and emulated by oriented meteorites similar to this offering as this is the most efficient angle at which heat is deflected from an object undergoing atmospheric frictional heating. This is one of the great aesthetic examples of such a known meteorite.
Additional specimens in the Macovich Collection include a highly aesthetic Gibeon iron meteorite (estimate: $50.000-80.000) that qualifies as an extraterrestrial table sculpture, and one of the most unusually shaped stone meteorites known (estimate: $40.000-60.000) that evokes Ken Price's sculpture. Additional highlights of the sale include: three lots containing the oldest matter mankind can touch, one with over 70 amino acids from space (estimate: between $12.000-18.000); two selected specimens from the largest meteor shower since the dawn of civilization (estimate: $15.000-30.000); five specimens with extraterrestrial gems – including one with nanodiamonds (estimate: between $4.000-25.000); a meteorite wedge from Meteor Crater, Arizona (estimate: $2.500-3.500); and the main mass of the New York meteorite ($25.000-40.000).
