Current:Home > FinanceTravelers through Maine’s biggest airport can now fly to the moon. Or, at least, a chunk of it-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Travelers through Maine’s biggest airport can now fly to the moon. Or, at least, a chunk of it
View Date:2024-12-23 20:56:59
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Fly me to the moon. Or, at least, to Maine.
Maine’s largest airport is now home to the second largest piece of the moon on Earth, according to moon rock enthusiasts who installed the extraterrestrial chunk. The moon piece is a little bigger than a rugby ball and is on loan to the Portland International Jetport from the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum.
The moon chunk went on display at the airport on Tuesday and organizers said, jokingly, that it gives Maine travelers a chance to go somewhere no other airport can take them — the moon. The piece is housed in an exhibit alongside one of the world’s largest pieces of Mars and other samples.
“This exhibit will be full of beautiful examples of meteorite specimens from the moon, Mars and the asteroid 4 Vesta,” said Cari Corrigan, curator of meteorites at the Smithsonian Institution.
The moon chunk weighs about 94 pounds (42.7 kilograms) and is the result of an asteroid striking the moon, said Darryl Pitt, a consultant to the mineral museum and a meteorite dealer. It was found in Libya in 2021, but exactly when the piece fell to Earth is difficult to say, he said.
The piece is usually displayed at the Bethel museum in Maine’s western mountains, some 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) from Portland. The museum’s organizers said it is home to the largest known pieces of the moon and Mars, as well as the world’s largest collection of lunar meteorites.
Organizers said the display of the moon piece at the airport is especially appropriate because of the buzz about the coming total solar eclipse in April.
The National Weather Service has said the total solar eclipse will occur “for a large portion of northern Maine with a partial eclipse for the remainder of the state.”
“We love celebrating unique aspects of Maine and the MMGM is certainly among them,” said Paul Bradbury, the director of the Portland airport.
The moon chunk exhibit is slated to be on display at the airport for five years, organizers said.
veryGood! (68917)
Related
- Will Trump curb transgender rights? After election, community prepares for worst
- ZLINE expands recall of potentially deadly gas stoves to include replacement or refund option
- Black Friday is almost here. What to know about the holiday sales event’s history and evolution
- Bradley Cooper Reacts to Controversy Over Wearing Prosthetic Nose in Maestro
- Olivia Culpo Celebrates Christian McCaffrey's NFL Comeback Alongside Mother-in-Law
- Broadcom planning to complete deal for $69 billion acquisition of VMWare after regulators give OK
- 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off'—and levels up
- A hand grenade explosion triggered by a quarrel at a market injured 9 people in southern Kosovo
- Caitlin Clark shanks tee shot, nearly hits fans at LPGA's The Annika pro-am
- 'She definitely turned him on': How Napoleon's love letters to Josephine inform a new film
Ranking
- Women’s baseball players could soon have a league of their own again
- 'She definitely turned him on': How Napoleon's love letters to Josephine inform a new film
- Elon Musk says X Corp. will donate ad and subscription revenue tied to Gaza war
- Police say 2 dead and 5 wounded in Philadelphia shooting that may be drug-related
- Justice Department says jail conditions in Georgia’s Fulton County violate detainee rights
- Palestinian flag displayed by fans of Scottish club Celtic at Champions League game draws UEFA fine
- Olympic organizers to release more than 400,000 new tickets for the Paris Games and Paralympics
- King Charles honors Blackpink for environmental efforts: See photos
Recommendation
-
Louisiana mom arrested for making false kidnapping report after 'disagreement' with son
-
Live updates | Timing for the Israel-Hamas pause in fighting will be announced in the next 24 hours
-
Jamie Lynn Spears cries recalling how 'people' didn't want her to have a baby at 16
-
Florida mom, baby found stabbed to death, as firefighters rescue 2 kids from blaze
-
Federal judge denies request to block measure revoking Arkansas casino license
-
Elon Musk says X Corp. will donate ad and subscription revenue tied to Gaza war
-
Mississippi drops charges in killing of former state lawmaker but says new charges are possible
-
As some stores shrink windows for sending back items, these retailers have the best returns policies