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Treasured "Moon Rock" Is Petrified Wood

Hugh Pickens writes "BBC reports that a treasured piece at the Dutch national museum — a supposed moon rock from the first manned lunar landing given to former Prime Minister Willem Drees during a goodwill tour by the three Apollo-11 astronauts shortly after their moon mission in 1969 — has been revealed as nothing more than petrified wood, curators say. A jagged fist-size stone with reddish tints, it was mounted and placed above a plaque that said, 'With the compliments of the Ambassador of the United States of America... to commemorate the visit to The Netherlands of the Apollo-11 astronauts.' The plaque does not specify that the rock came from the moon's surface. Researchers from Amsterdam's Free University said they could see at a glance the rock was probably not from the moon. They followed the initial appraisal up with extensive testing. 'It's a nondescript, pretty-much-worthless stone,' wrote Geologist Frank Beunk in an article published by the museum. Beunk says the rock, which the museum at one point insured for more than half a million dollars, was worth no more than $70. The 'rock' had originally been been vetted through a phone call to NASA. As the US Embassy in the Hague said it was investigating the matter, the Rijksmuseum says it will keep the piece as a curiosity."

16 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. does this mean war? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope this can be resolved peacefully, American forces are stretched a bit thin at the moment.

  2. Cue the moon-mission hoax cult by SputnikPanic · · Score: 5, Funny

    They'll be coming out of the (petrified) woodwork again...

  3. I KNEW IT! by SilverHatHacker · · Score: 5, Funny

    Proof that the moon landing was faked!!!
    ;)

    --
    Funny may not give karma, but +5 Informative never made anyone snort coffee out their nose.
    1. Re:I KNEW IT! by east+coast · · Score: 4, Funny

      No! This is proof that life once existed on the moon. A great find.

      --
      Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.
    2. Re:I KNEW IT! by east+coast · · Score: 4, Funny

      Does that mean that the moon is a witch? Or is it a duck?

      --
      Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.
    3. Re:I KNEW IT! by WindowlessView · · Score: 4, Funny

      This is proof that life once existed on the moon.

      It proves that the moon was once an interstate Stuckey's on the way to other galaxies. They just didn't find the low carb pecan log roll. It was only one shelf over.

      --
      Leave the gun, take the cannolis.
  4. Summary needs grammar check by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...to commemorate the visit to The Netherlands of the Apollo-11 astronauts

    o.O

    Who would want to visit an astronaut's nether regions, and even if they did why would they need a commemoration

  5. Obligatory by Kranerian · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's no moon rock...

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    Do you have any idea how long it takes to dig graves for twenty-three oak trees?
  6. In other news... by 14erCleaner · · Score: 5, Funny

    Officials in Lake Havasu City, Arizona have discovered that the "London Bridge" they purchased back in the 60's is actually made of moon rock.

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    Have you read my blog lately?
  7. Re:Best line of story: by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Funny

    But they had a "A++, would buy again" rating!

  8. Re:Were hot grits involved? by jollyreaper · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ok, this is many things but it is not a troll. Must we go through this every time a new set of idiots starts to get mod points?

    If anything, I should be modded up for not making the easy dick joke! Petrified wood? Talk about low-hanging fruit! (which in itself could be easily subverted into a sexual reference. High five!)

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
  9. Re:Best line of story: by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 5, Funny

    "And when we held the rock up to the receiver, NASA said, 'Yep, that's just what a moon rock sounds like!'"

  10. Wan Hu by slashmojo · · Score: 5, Funny

    So Wan Hu made it to the moon after all!

     

    Early in the sixteenth century, Wan decided to take advantage of China's advanced rocket and fireworks technology to launch himself into outer space. He supposedly had a chair built with forty-seven rockets attached. On the day of lift-off, Wan, splendidly attired, climbed into his rocket chair and forty seven servants lit the fuses and then hastily ran for cover. There was a huge explosion. When the smoke cleared, Wan and the chair were gone, and was said never to have been seen again.

  11. ancient moon trees by tverbeek · · Score: 5, Funny

    The only hoax is NASA's claim that the moon is utterly barren! This revelation proves the existence of ancient moon trees!

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    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  12. Re:Rock swap? by tverbeek · · Score: 5, Funny

    Anyone who watched the moon landings on TV knows that the whole moon is grey: completely colorless.

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    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  13. Re:Rock swap? by StikyPad · · Score: 5, Funny

    Too bad his little bro drank all of the former and killed the latter.

    What? Too soon?