Lunar meteorite NEA 089 – 1,3g – Libya

Lunar Meteorite NEA 089 – a genuine fragment of the Moon

The lunar meteorite NEA 089 (Northeast Africa 089) is a genuine fragment of rock originating from the Moon. Such meteorites were ejected from the lunar surface into space by powerful impacts and, after travelling through the Solar System, eventually fell to Earth. They therefore represent one of the few opportunities to own an authentic piece of our natural satellite. The NEA 089 meteorite was found in Libya in 2024. The officially recorded total mass is approximately 16 kg.

What type of lunar meteorite is NEA 089?

NEA 089 is classified as a lunar troctolitic-anorthositic melt breccia. Breccias are formed when different rock fragments are fused together during extremely energetic impact processes. The meteorite consists mainly of plagioclase and olivine.

How did lunar rock reach Earth?

For a piece of lunar rock to reach Earth, it must first be ejected from the Moon’s surface at sufficient speed by the impact of an asteroid or another cosmic body. The fragment may then travel through space for a long period before its trajectory is influenced by Earth’s gravity and it enters the atmosphere.

A rare collector’s meteorite

Lunar meteorites are among the most highly sought-after collector meteorites. Each fragment represents an authentic sample of material from the Moon and provides evidence of the processes that took place on its surface throughout its long geological history. NEA 089 is also a relatively recently classified lunar meteorite, making it an interesting addition to a specialized meteorite collection.