Background
Letter from Curator
  The Hupe Collection Logo

June 17th, 2013


Dear Patrons of the Official Northwest Africa 5000 Website,

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce the main mass of lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 5000 (NWA 5000). The goal of this website is to bring together information, and to present it in a way that will help you to appreciate the scientific and aesthetic qualities of this exceedingly rare example from our nearest celestial neighbor, the Moon.

This international treasure has been impeccably supervised under the stewardship of the Hupé Collection since its discovery in 2007. It has taken six years of micromanaging every aspect of this lunar rock in order to properly present it here and ensure its legendary status. Global collaboration between prominent research laboratories has provided new information about the Moon and the Earth thanks to this important specimen. The study of NWA 5000 will continue well into the future, since it is unique and came from an unexplored part of the Moon.

Results of scientific investigations are discussed in the Terrestrial History and Extraterrestrial History sections to make for simpler reading. Please note that scans of official papers are included in the Authenticity and Appraisal area. For those who are visually oriented, pictures and a 3-D video with brief descriptions are supplied in the Images area. A generous amount of accurate information is provided throughout, so that prospective buyers can make an informed purchasing decision.

NWA 5000 initially weighed 11,528 grams. Six complete slices and an end-cut were liberated, reducing it to the present certified weight of 6,072 grams. It is currently larger than any specimen in the NASA collection of returned lunar samples.

This cosmic masterpiece will provide limitless promotional opportunities to the individual, organization or country that acquires it, and it will leave an indelible impression on all who observe it. This bold statement is based on how well the complete slice was received at the 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston, Texas where over 1,500 planetary scientists were in attendance. Virtually everybody who examined the slice expressed excitement about both its beauty and scientific implications. The main mass made its public debut at the Royal Ontario Museum for the grand opening of the new Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth�s Treasures where it occupied the central position for months. It was immensely popular and efforts were made to keep it there permanently. Apollo 16 astronaut and Moonwalker, Charles Duke used a slice of this meteorite to promote future lunar missions in a keynote address to the Planetary Studies Foundation in Chicago.

Please do not hesitate to use the contact page if you have any questions regarding the acquisition of the NWA 5000 main mass. I will entertain serious offers over the next few months.

Best Regards,
Signature
Adam Charles Hupé
Current Steward of NWA 5000
The Hupé Collection
IMCA 2185