Ever wondered what the Moon is really like? Soon, visitors to the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will have the chance to find out. The museum is displaying the rare NWA 12691 lunar meteorite, a special piece of the Moon’s surface discovered in the Western Sahara desert in 2017.
Lunar meteorites like NWA 12691 are incredibly rare and important to scientists. They come from the Moon’s surface, ejected by asteroid or comet impacts, and land on Earth. This meteorite offers clues about impacts on the Moon, making it a valuable discovery.
The NWA 12691 meteorite weighs 13.5kg, though it was much larger when it was ejected from the Moon. Over thousands of years, it orbited Earth before landing in the desert. Its unique mix of mineral fragments shows the force of many impacts on the Moon.
Why do so many meteorites end up in deserts? The dry, clear conditions in deserts make it easier to spot meteorites, especially because their dark color contrasts with the surrounding landscape. Meteorites like these help scientists learn more about space without the need for expensive space missions.
This meteorite is just one example of the incredible specimens on display at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi. The museum is building up its collection of meteorites and other space-related objects for its "Story of Earth" gallery, which will explore everything from the Big Bang to the age of dinosaurs.
Hamad Younis Al Marzooqi, the museum’s Assistant Curator, is excited about the museum’s future and the growing interest in science, especially among young Emiratis. He hopes the museum will inspire the next generation to explore the mysteries of our world and beyond.
The museum is expected to be a major attraction for people interested in everything from meteorites to marine life and dinosaurs, showing how everything on Earth and in space is interconnected. Al Marzooqi is working hard to make the museum a place that offers an exciting, educational experience for all ages.
