Micrometeorite | NMM 3872 - Strömstad | Barred olivine

Product detailed description

Billions of years ago, somewhere in the distant universe, there was a giant star. Its insatiable gravity fed an unimaginable amount of energy. Constantly converting lighter elements into heavier ones, it defied irreversible fate for hundreds of millions of years. But one day, the fuel ran out, and in a huge explosion, the star blew most of its mass as microscopic particles into deep space. Most of these grains of matter eventually formed into new suns, planets, moons or asteroids. But a large fraction of them have spent all their time travelling alone. As grains of dust, they came into existence, and as grains of dust they still exist today. Stardust.

One such speck has entered a collision course with Earth. It was lucky enough not to vaporize as it passed through the atmosphere. It merely melted and formed into a shape reminiscent of the Death Star. By continuing coincidence, it was found in Strömstad Shopping Centre, Strömstad, Sweden on September 21, 2022.

This was followed by a detailed examination under an electron microscope, a unique photographic process (which involves focusing and compositing dozens of partial photographs for maximum photo quality), and compositional analysis for definitive confirmation of extraterrestrial origin.

Micrometeorite NMM 3872 is a large (~0.4 mm) barred olivine (BO) type with an extremely shiny nickel-free iron metal bead in the front. It has been a controversy if pure iron without nickel exists in Space, but here it is. The bead is surrounded by a magnetite rim, and this stone is a rarity and a unique museum quality micrometeorite, a jewel in any collection. It was found September 21, 2022, at Strömstad Shoppingcenter, Strömstad, Sweden.

If you decide to be one of the first private owners of a micrometeorite in the world and order it from us, you will get not only the stone itself, but everything you need to enjoy this natural unique to the fullest. The package includes an ultra-high resolution digital photograph, an autobiographical (signed by the author) Star Hunter book by Jon Larsen, and of course the meteorite itself along with a signed certificate of authenticity.

The stone is housed in a durable case with a covered slide-out microscope slide. It is therefore possible to enjoy its unique beauty at any time by observing it yourself under a microscope.

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Provenance: the catalog number refers to the NMM Archives, the index to Jon Larsen's Project Stardust collection, a reference collection for urban micrometeorites. The stone was found, managed and collected by Larsen and is in pristine condition, straight from space.