Big chunk of Mars rock goes on display in Bethel

BETHEL, Maine — A large chunk of rock from Mars goes on public display in Maine on Wednesday.

The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in Bethel has said the specimen weighs 32 pounds. The museum will host the rock, which it has said is the largest intact Mars rock on Earth.

The museum has said the rock was the result of an asteroid impact on the surface of Mars that ejected material into an Earth-crossing orbit in space. It has also said only about 560 pounds of Mars rock is known to exist on Earth.

The rock is known as “Taoudenni 002.”