Moon rock for sale!: One of the largest lunar meteorite to be auctioned for $2.5 million

One of the world's largest Moon rock will go on sale in London on Friday. Valued at $2.49 million, the piece of the meteorite was knocked off the moon and will auction at a private sale at Christie's in Britain.

Known as NWA 12691, it is thought to be the fifth largest piece of the moon ever found on earth and weighs over 13.5 kg.

Scientists determined the rock to be from Moonafterthey compared it with other samples of moon rock brought back by the United States' Apollo space missions to the moon.

According to a report by Reuters, the moon rock was probably struck off the surface of the moon by a collision with an asteroid or comet and then showered down on the Sahara desert.

"It is an actual piece of the moon. It is about the size of a football, a bit more oblong than that, larger than your head," said James Hyslop, Christie's head of science and natural history.

Meteorites are incredibly rare and only about one in a thousand comes from the moon, making this a very special object, Hyslop also said.

"We are expecting huge international interest in it from natural history museums... it is a wonderful trophy for anyone who is interested in space history or lunar exploration."

The moon has fascinated man since the dawn of human history as a symbol of power, love, time and prosperity, and is the earth's only natural satellite. It is thought to have been formed 4.5 billion years ago when a Mars-sized body collided with earth.

(With inputs from agencies)