NASA Moon Rocks and Meteorites Coming To Evergreen Park Library

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- Science geeks of all ages are invited to come to the Evergreen Park Public Library and inspect real moon rocks and meteorites up close and personal. The lunar and meteorite samples are on loan directly from NASA. Patrons young and old will be able to inspect the rocks in protective disks and participate in space-based experiments and activities.

There will be two chances to view the cosmic relics from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on May 2 and May 9 (both Wednesdays) in the library’s teen activity room. The moon rock and meteorite viewings are FREE. The Lunar and Meteorite Sample Disk Program is intended for K-12 classrooms, museums, libraries and planetariums

Between 1969 and 1972, six Apollo missions returned with 842 pounds of lunar rocks, core samples, pebbles, sand and dust from the lunar surface. The six space flights brought back 2,200 separate samples from six different exploration sites on the Moon, according to NASA. The samples are housed in a special sample building at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. Nearly 400 pristine lunar samples are prepared and distributed each year for research and teaching projects. Study of the lunar samples brought back by the Apollo missions continue to yield fascinating information about the moon, which is believed to be formed from debris knocked off the earth 4.4 billion years ago by a planetary body the size of Mars.

The Evergreen Park Public Library is located at 9400 S. Troy Ave., Evergreen Park. Visit the library’s website for more information.

NASA-certified moon rocks and meteorites. | Photo provided by Evergreen Park Library