MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineer Center is hoping some thin threads made of gold will yield them some money for research.

Mark Mulligan, a worker at the center, is selling the 8-millimeter thin threads that are nearly pure gold on the UW-Madison Surplus With A Purpose online auction site.

They are left over from a spool of golden thread that went to space several years ago in satellites on two Japanese-American rockets. They were tucked into cylinders the size of a 40-ounce beer can.

The minimum bid is $8,500, which is roughly based on the current price for gold of about $625 an ounce.

The auction closes on Jan. 18. So far no one has made a bid.

The money goes into the research fund for the center, which is otherwise supported by grants and contracts with NASA and other agencies.