Priceless Moon samples on display

The fragments have travelled 250,000 miles from the Moon

Tiny fragments of Moon rock collected by US astronauts on three missions are on display in Sussex this weekend.

Under the scrutiny of two bodyguards at the first ever Brighton Science Festival, members of the public will be allowed to hold a piece of the rock.

The priceless samples, which are owned by Nasa, were brought down to Earth by the Apollo space missions of the 1970s.

The event is being held at City College, where visitors will also get the chance to learn scientific facts.

The priceless samples of the lunar landscape have been carefully preserved.

They were collected during Apollo missions 15, 16 and 17 in the years directly after Apollo 11's groundbreaking trip.

David Harris, of the British and Irish Meteorite Society, said they were of "historical importance" and provided evidence that they were probably part of the forming Earth.

"I'm grateful to have the privilege of being able to display them," he said.