Historic Martian Meteorite Fetches $4.3 Million at Sotheby’s Auction

Sotheby's auctioned a monumental Martian meteorite, NWA 16788, weighing 54 pounds and measuring nearly 15 inches, for $4.3 million. Discovered in Niger, it is the largest recovered piece of Mars, with only around 400 Martian meteorites ever found on our planet.

An "unbelievably rare" Martian meteorite, recognized as the largest ever discovered on Earth, has been sold for an impressive $4.3 million (£3.2 million) at a recent auction held by Sotheby's in New York. Dubbed NWA 16788, the meteorite weighs 54 pounds (24.5 kg) and stretches nearly 15 inches (38.1 cm) in length, making it a noteworthy addition to the world of space exploration artifacts.

The meteorite was unearthed in November 2023 from a remote region of Niger and has been described by Sotheby’s as "unbelievably rare," as it is 70% larger than the previous largest piece of Martian rock recovered. According to auction officials, only about 400 Martian meteorites have been discovered on our planet, amplifying the significance of this particular specimen.

Cassandra Hatton, vice-chair of science and natural history at Sotheby’s, commented on the exceptional nature of this meteorite, emphasizing the astronomical odds of it landing on Earth, particularly given that roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans. "We're incredibly lucky that this landed on dry land instead of the middle of the ocean where we could actually find it," she explained in an online video.

While the buyer's identity remains confidential, including details about where the meteorite will be housed, the total cost of the acquisition, after accounting for additional taxes and fees, rose to around $5.3 million. This auction featured other impressive items as well, marking an extraordinary event for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Among them, a Ceratosaurus skeleton from the late Jurassic period was sold for $26 million, and the skull of a Pachycephalosaurus fetched $1.4 million.