The Standard for Meteorite Photography

A Scale Cube is the universal 1 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm size reference for meteorites and other geological specimens. It provides an immediate sense of scale while adding the clean, professional look seen in scientific publications and collection catalogs.

Whether you’re photographing a new acquisition, documenting a sale, or simply displaying your favorite specimen, a proper scale cube is one of the simplest ways to elevate your photography.

A Brief History of this Design

NASA developed this specific 1-centimeter scale cube design as a standardized photographic reference for documenting geological and planetary samples. Its compact size, bold black-and-white markings, and visibility from multiple angles made it ideal for photographing rocks without distracting from the specimen itself. These exact style scale cubes were used in the Lunar Receiving Lab to photograph moon rocks returned from the Apollo missions, and at ANSMET during recovery of Antarctic meteorites. 

A Lunar Sample Returned from the Apollo 15 Mission, with NASA Scale Cube

The markings on a NASA scale cube are directional. The six faces are labeled T, B, N, S, E, and W for Top, Bottom, North, South, East, and West. That makes the cube useful for much more than simply showing size. When a meteorite is photographed with the cube kept in a consistent orientation, the letters provide a permanent reference for how the specimen was positioned. A researcher or collector can identify which side of the specimen was facing north, south, east, or west, as well as its top and bottom. That's ideal for photographing specimens in situ or after recovery.

Today, meteorite researchers, museums, universities, classification laboratories, and collectors around the world routinely use scale cubes.

Save when Buying More!

Quantity discounts are available when purchasing multiple cubes (great for displays or dealers). These discounts are applied automatically when you add to your cart. 

    • Save 10% when purchasing 5 or more cubes
    • Save 20% when purchasing 20 or more cubes

Custom sizes, colors, bulk orders, and wholesale pricing are available. Please contact me for requirements and pricing.

* Stones shown on the stands are for display only and not included in the purchase. Scale cubes are tested to be accurate within 0.05cm.