The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in Bethel has announced that Teghaza 001, an ancient Martian meteorite, will go on public display during the week beginning November 9. The November 3 announcement places the limited-time exhibition in the museum’s space-rocks gallery, which houses the Stifler Collection of meteorites.
The museum’s notice describes the specimen as about 4.1 billion years old and says it was discovered in the desert in Mali. It does not specify an exact first viewing day or an exhibition closing date.
The display follows research reported by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on October 29. Scientists are examining the rock for evidence of the interaction between water and minerals on early Mars. The new museum announcement concerns public access to the specimen, rather than a new discovery made this week.
Visitors planning a trip should confirm the display’s opening with the museum. Its published weekly schedule lists Tuesdays as closed, with final admission at 4 pm on open days.
Illustrative archive photograph of the Jrifiya meteorite, May 2015. This is not Teghaza 001 or the new Maine display. “Shergottite (Jrifiya Meteorite) 1” by James St. John, CC BY 2.0. No local edits; display may be resized or cropped.
