By Tim Binnall
What may be the only doghouse ever to be struck by a meteorite is up for auction and the unique object could wind up selling for a staggering price. The small structure found its way into space history back in April of 2019 when a meteorite shower unfolded over the city of Aguas Zarcas, Costa Rica. In the aftermath of the event, it was discovered that one of the sizeable space rocks had pierced the oxidized tin roof of a doghouse and nearly hit the napping canine, named Roky, who was resting inside at the time.
As seen in the video below, when the incident occurred, the meteorite at the center of the case garnered considerable attention as its clay-rich nature made it a particularly intriguing specimen to scientists. The fact that it plunged through the roof of a doghouse was treated as something of an amusing aside as the space rock eventually made its way to a museum to be studied and Roky's home was seemingly forgotten. However, a auction organized by Christie's may see something of a reversal of fortune as the doghouse is now expected to fetch far more than the meteorite that made it famous.
The online sale, dubbed 'Deep Impact: Martian, Lunar and Other Rare Meteorites,' features an array of noteworthy space rocks that have plunged to the Earth over the years and one item that stands out among the rest: the shelter that Roky once called home. Known as the Aguas Zarcas Doghouse, the structure measures approximately four cubic feet and boasts the original roof, complete with a seven-inch diameter hole, that was pierced by the meteorite. Emblazoned over the entrance to the home is an 'R' for its famous canine resident.
Amazingly, the auction house estimates that the doghouse could sell for a staggering $200,000 to $300,000, which is enough to buy an actual residence in many places across America. An explanation for this high valuation may be that there seems to be something of a strange market for everyday objects that were hit by meteorites with a mailbox fetching $86,000 in 2017 and a car selling for a whopping $230,000 in 2010. As for the space rock that struck Roky's house, that is expected to sell for a 'mere' $40,000 to $60,000.