In an extraordinary auction event on Wednesday, an astonishing 54-pound piece of Mars, known as NWA 16788, was sold for $4.3 million at Sotheby’s in New York. This reddish-brown meteorite, measuring nearly 15 inches in length, is considered the largest ever found on Earth, making it a coveted treasure among collectors and scientists alike. Discovered in a remote area of Niger in November 2023, it is touted to be 70% larger than any other Martian meteorite previously recovered.
Described as "unbelievably rare" by Sotheby's, this prized rock is one of only about 400 Martian meteorites known to exist on our planet. The odds of it making the journey from Mars to Earth are astronomically small, according to Cassandra Hatton, the vice-chairman of science and natural history at the auction house. "Remember that approximately 70% of Earth's surface is covered in water," Hatton explained in an online video, highlighting the luck involved in its landing on dry land rather than in the ocean.
While the total price of the meteorite, accounting for fees and taxes, reached around $5.3 million, the future whereabouts of this rare find remain undisclosed, as information about the buyer is kept private. The auction event showcased many remarkable items, including a Ceratosaurus skeleton that garnered an astonishing $26 million and the skull of a Pachycephalosaurus, which sold for $1.4 million. The excitement around space exploration and our connection to the cosmos continues to fuel interest, with this major sale underscoring the allure of extraterrestrial artifacts.
