Some of the lunar samples returned by Apollo 17 were stored unopened for 50 years to await new instruments and techniques that did not exist during the Apollo era. 

Those samples were opened between 2020 and 2022 and have been undergoing study and analysis by nine research teams from selected research institutions, including the Institute of Meteoritics at UNM. 

The teams, combined into a single research team, are co-led by Dr. Charles Shearer. Join Dr. Shearer as he presents some of the exciting new discoveries that have been made so far, our increased understanding of our Moon as we prepare for new human lunar missions and the importance to developing a New Mexico Space Economy. 

About the Speaker: Dr. Charles Shearer is Chief Scientist for the NASA Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) Initiative, the science leader of the CASA Moon node of the NASA SSERVI program, and organizer for the UNM Sustainable Space Research Grand Challenge. Currently he is a Senior Research Specialist at the Institute of Meteoritics, and Research Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, UNM. He is also a Visiting Scientist, Lunar and Planetary Science Institute, Houston. Last year he received the Gilbert Award from the Geological Society of America for outstanding contributions to Planetary Science.  He received his Ph.D. from the Univ of Massachusetts, Amherst. 

Tickets are $8 for the general public, $7 for Museum members, and $5 for students. Preregistration is encouraged. Tickets are available using the link below.