【hidden cam eroticism】

On the outside,hidden cam eroticism the plain white bag seems unremarkable. But inside, it's laced with an exquisite and extremely valuable material: moon dust.

Neil Armstrong stuffed this sack with the world's first samples of lunar rocks during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Traces of dust still remain in the outer decontamination bag, which includes a label reading "LUNAR SAMPLE RETURN."

Sotheby's New York said the dinner plate-sized bag could fetch up to $4 million when it goes on the auction block on July 20 -- the 48th anniversary of the Apollo 11's historic first moon landing.

SEE ALSO: The Best Moons in the Solar System

"The only such relic available for private ownership, it is exceptionally rare," Sotheby's said on its website.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

NASA won't be reaping the benefits, however.

In a space-themed comedy of errors, Armstrong initially turned the zippered bag over to scientists at a Houston lab, but the U.S. space agency forgot about it over time. Decades later, the government mistakenly auctioned off the bag along with other space exploration memorabilia.

Nancy Lee Carlson, a Chicago-area attorney and self-proclaimed space nerd, bought the pouch and other items for just $995. Suspecting it contained more than fibers and zippers, she sent her bag to NASA for testing.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

That's when NASA scientists realized they'd lost the world's original bag of moon dust, and they refused to forfeit it a second time. Carlson fought back and, after a protracted legal battle, a U.S. District Court ordered NASA to return the bag in February.

NASA said it won't appeal the ruling, but the agency is still salty about the outcome.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

William Jeffs, a NASA spokesman, said NASA thinks the bag should be on public display because it "represents the culmination of a massive national effort involving a generation of Americans, including the astronauts who risked their lives in an effort to accomplish the most significant act humankind has ever achieved," he told the Wall Street Journal.

But Carlson isn't exactly a moon-digger. The attorney plans to donate a portion of the sale proceeds to charity, and to establish a scholarship at her alma mater, Northern Michigan University, Reuters reported.

Sotheby's, meanwhile, is downright giddy. Apart from this court-ordered exception, NASA doesn't allow individuals to own any bits of the moon, which is why this bag is likely to fetch millions, said Cassandra Hatton, a senior specialist at the auction house.

"This is my Mona Lisa moment," she told the Journal.

The moon dust bag will be the shining star of Sotheby's first space exploration-themed sale, which will also include items from the personal collections of astronauts; signed photographs, maps, and charts; as well as engineering models and 3-D objects.

---

Featured Video For You

---

NASA designed grippers that can lift celestial rocks in microgravity

---

• Life
• Shopping
• Social Good
• Deals
• Science
• Digital Culture
• Tech
• Entertainment

• Best Presidents' Day deal: Save $44 on Fitbit Charge 6
• Google is opening Home to third party developers
• Genius builds robot that communicates in GIFs
• Lady Gaga breaks down how PTSD affects her life in a poignant letter
• Elon Musk's DOGE.gov website can apparently be edited by anyone
• This is what it's like to play a singing goblin in 'Fantastic Beasts'
• Amazon Go is coming, so it's time to learn how to bag your own damn groceries
• These robotic utensils are changing the lives of people with disabilities
• GPU Pricing Update, Year in Review: Price Trends Charted
• Polar vortex about to blast U.S. with coldest air of the season

• Twitter is on fire as the Trump train goes off the rails
• Ransomware hackers are so desperate to explain Bitcoin they've set up IT departments
• Hands on with the HTC U 11 and its squeezable Edge Sense sides
• Bill Cosby comments on sexual assault allegations in first public interview in 2 years
• Hackers threaten to release upcoming Disney movie
• Japan is using robots for everything because there just aren't enough people
• The future of Nike design looks amazing in this concept video
• Arctic meltdown propels globe to second
• The hero who stopped WannaCry ransomware just wants to be left alone
• Senate staffers can now use Signal, apparently

• The Best Sports Video Game of All Time
• Amazon’s grocery store disruption has a very human problem
• This is why you don't pose with guns for the mannequin challenge
• Everyone hates Facebook's 'Year in Review,' not just you
• Google's data center raises the stakes in this state's 'water wars'
• No, Muslim leaders don't want to ban Peppa Pig
• The best climate messengers for Trump are people you've never heard of
• Flying an X
• E3 2017 Trailer Roundup: Upcoming PC Games
• Snapchat makes biggest move yet in becoming the new TV

• We'll always, er, sorta, have the Paris Climate Agreement
• 'The Bachelor' just announced a 'dramatic' line of signature wines
• India's largest telecom network Airtel announces plans for free voice calls
• This device makes it super easy for thieves to steal your car
• NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for February 11: Tips to solve Connections #141
• Cilantro hater lashes out with a very relatable grocery store sign
• India's largest telecom network Airtel announces plans for free voice calls
• MashReads Podcast: Here's why you should reread 'To Kill A Mockingbird'
• Best LG B4 OLED TV deal: Save $200 at Best Buy
• Starbucks, late to the game, releases Pokémon Go Frappuccino