The largest piece of Mars ever discovered on Earth has been sold for an astonishing $4.3 million at a recent auction held in New York. The meteorite, known as NWA 16788, weighs an impressive 54 pounds (24.5 kg) and measures nearly 15 inches (38.1 cm) in length. Sotheby's auction house reports that it was unearthed in the desolate landscapes of Niger in November 2023, with its size overshadowing the next biggest Martian meteorite by a staggering 70%.
Describing the specimen as "unbelievably rare," Sotheby's highlights that only around 400 Martian meteorites have ever been located on Earth. "This is the largest piece of Mars on our planet," noted Cassandra Hatton, vice-chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby's, in a recently shared video. She emphasized the remarkable odds of the meteorite's journey to Earth, considering that approximately 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, increasing the rarity of such finds.
While the purchaser of the NWA 16788 will remain undisclosed due to private sale details, additional costs pushed the total payment to approximately $5.3 million. The auction itself showcased over 100 items, with other notable sales including a Ceratosaurus skeleton from the late Jurassic period, which fetched $26 million, and a Pachycephalosaurus skull, which was sold for $1.4 million. The remarkable prices indicate a soaring interest in artifacts from both space exploration and prehistoric history.
Describing the specimen as "unbelievably rare," Sotheby's highlights that only around 400 Martian meteorites have ever been located on Earth. "This is the largest piece of Mars on our planet," noted Cassandra Hatton, vice-chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby's, in a recently shared video. She emphasized the remarkable odds of the meteorite's journey to Earth, considering that approximately 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, increasing the rarity of such finds.
While the purchaser of the NWA 16788 will remain undisclosed due to private sale details, additional costs pushed the total payment to approximately $5.3 million. The auction itself showcased over 100 items, with other notable sales including a Ceratosaurus skeleton from the late Jurassic period, which fetched $26 million, and a Pachycephalosaurus skull, which was sold for $1.4 million. The remarkable prices indicate a soaring interest in artifacts from both space exploration and prehistoric history.
