€1 million giant 4.6-billion-year-old meteorite up for auction to save Dutch observatory

A massive 240-kilogram iron meteorite, believed to be 4.6 billion years old, is set to be auctioned later this summer in a sale expected to raise up to 1 million euros to help secure the future of Sterrenwacht Mercurius, the public observatory in Dordrecht.

The meteorite, known as the Gibeon, is named after the village of Gibeon in Namibia, where it was discovered. "We’ve never come across one like this before," Erik Blokland of Sterrenwacht Mercurius told Rijnmond. "That makes it very special."

According to Blokland, about 150 meteorites fall to Earth each year, but specimens of this size are exceptionally rare. The meteorite consists of iron and nickel and is currently the largest of its kind still available for purchase.

“All other meteorites of this type are considered cultural heritage and are no longer for sale,” Bradley Hessink, auctioneer at Hessink’s auction house, told Rijnmond. “The Gibeon meteorite is 4.6 billion years old and made of iron and nickel, which makes it extremely rare.” Hessink estimated the sale could fetch between 800,000 euros and 1 million euros.

A portion of the meteorite—a polished cross-section revealing the crystal structure inside—is currently on display at the observatory. “That never stops being fascinating,” Blokland added.

The decision to sell the meteorite was not taken lightly. “I do feel like I’m missing a piece,” Blokland told Rijnmond, “but this was a broadly supported decision.” He explained that the observatory’s municipal subsidy from Dordrecht barely covers salaries and fixed costs. “We can’t survive on that alone.”

Blokland emphasized the urgency: “The sale of the Gibeon meteorite is crucial for the survival of the observatory. If we want to continue our educational mission in the Drechtsteden region and beyond, this is the right step.”

He added that Sterrenwacht Mercurius had faced the threat of funding cuts for years. Although the municipality has recently recognized the observatory’s educational value for children, securing its operations for two more years, the meteorite sale is seen as a necessary precaution. “The money will go toward the planetarium and modernizing the museum,” Blokland told Rijnmond.

Pieces of the meteorite have been found in the area surrounding Gibeon, but such finds are increasingly rare. “Countries are no longer allowed to be stripped bare,” Blokland added.

The Gibeon meteorite will be sold on August 30. Until then, it is on display at the Space Expo in Noordwijk. “Now’s your chance to see it up close and even touch it,” Hessink told Rijnmond. “Bring your children. Once it’s sold, you’ll never see it again.”

While Blokland estimated the value at a minimum of 250,000 euros, Hessink said the final price depends entirely on the buyer. “It depends on what someone is willing to pay,” he told the newspaper. “One person might spend a fortune on Max Verstappen’s race car, another on a space object.”