Even if the precise re-location might yet be something of a political football, it isn't exactly star-gazing to know that Hansen Planetarium will soon move. Sometime within the next year or so, the planetarium will take leave of its current quarters in the historic old library building in downtown Salt Lake.
Which brings up the question of the moon rock.
The fist-size chunk of mare basalt that sits in a place of honor in a specially alarmed case on the planetarium's upper level.
Exactly how are they going to move that?
"Well," says Richard Cox, the planetarium's director of education, "I've got a truck."
He's just kidding.
"I'm not sure anyone's thought about how we're going to move the rock," he said. "I don't even think anyone's told NASA yet that we're thinking of moving."
NASA is involved because it gave the moon rock to Hansen Planetarium back in 1971, not long after Apollo 15 returned from the moon. Actually, "gave" is overstating it. Officially, the moon rock is only on "permanent loan" to the planetarium — one of only two moon rocks that are stored anywhere outside of U.S. government jurisdiction.
"We're really lucky to have it," Cox says.
The Hansen moon rock is a small chunk broken off from a bigger rock that was picked up by astronaut Dave Scott on Aug. 2, 1971, in an area of the moon known as Hadley Rille. Officially cataloged as "Sample 15555,464" and known more informally as "Great Scott Rock," it is estimated to be 3.3 billion years old, making it older by far than anything in Salt Lake, including Stockton and Malone.
It is also very valuable, which accounts for the independent alarm system as mandated by NASA. As Cox noted the other day when we were admiring 15555,464, even an accidental bump to the column that holds the moon rock's glass-enclosed case would probably set off the alarm.
There probably isn't anything in Salt Lake that would be harder to walk off with. You could steal the Angel Moroni easier than the moon rock. You could steal the entire Hansen Planetarium and the only thing left standing would be the moon rock.
Other planetarium stuff isn't going to be easy to move, either. They have telescopes and projectors and carefully calibrated scientific instruments in there that are as sensitive as Mr. Rogers.
I don't know who they're going to get to move such instruments, but I know who they shouldn't get, and it involves pretty much anyone who's ever helped me move.
I know people who would pack the moon rock in some paper towels and put it in the safest place they know — on the front seat of the pickup, right next to the good front-room lamp, the VCR and the TV.
I happen to be one of them.
"So do you think the CIA will get involved?" I asked Richard, kidding around.
"Geez," he said, scratching his head. "I don't know. How are we going to move this thing?"
Luckily, they have a year or so to figure it out as well as line up people to help them move. I'd be happy to help, but I'm not touching that moon rock.
For what it's worth, my personal recommendation for the job would be Stockton to Malone.
Has anyone ever been better at passing the rock?
Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.