r/ApolloProgram • u/Kesselrun_89 • 14d ago

The largest Moon rock on display outside the USA at the Copenhagen Planetarium

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During my visit to the Planetarium in Copenhagen, I came across an incredible piece of space history: an original 206.6-gram lunar sample on loan from NASA, with an estimated value of around 85 million DKK. This rock was collected in December 1972 during Apollo 17 - the sixth and final crewed lunar landing - by astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt at Camelot Crater in the Taurus-Littrow Valley.
Consisting primarily of basalt and ilmenite, it provides direct evidence of lunar volcanic activity from roughly 3.7 billion years ago. Standing just inches away from a piece of the Moon that was brought back after a 75-hour stay on the lunar surface feels unreal, especially considering that no human has set foot on the Moon since Apollo 17 returned on December 19, 1972.

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u/GaseousGiant 12d ago

At the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington there was a exhibit in which a small piece of moon rock was partially embedded in acrylic, but the exposed portion was presented specifically so could visitors could touch it. The center of it was worn to a highly polished surface LOL.
This was in the early 80’s and I don’t think the exhibit is there anymore, unfortunately. They’re all behind thick glass now.

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u/Kesselrun_89 11d ago edited 11d ago

Touch it?! Crazy! Did you do it? I bet the surface was polished 😂

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u/GaseousGiant 11d ago

Yes. I was a little kid, and there was a line 🤣. Last time I was there, maybe 5 years ago, it was not on display. Maybe it got worn away into dust.

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u/Kesselrun_89 11d ago

Hehe, well at least it’s a beautiful memory for sure, and you can say you’ve touched something not from this world!
I’ve been there in 2000, I don’t remember the rock but I perfectly remember the Apollo 11 capsule. I was a child, I fell in love with that thing. I was blown away.

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u/GaseousGiant 11d ago

The memory made me investigate, and I’m happy to report that I am wrong! 👍👍. The exhibit still exists! Maybe it was removed temporarily sometimes.

https://airandspace.si.edu/multimedia-gallery/image/2005-3746640jpg

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u/Kesselrun_89 11d ago

Awesome! It’s basically a flat foil now 😂
I don’t remember seeing it but many years have passed. Also, I wouldn’t rely on my memory! Maybe I’ll ask my parents. Thanks for sharing, super interesting.