The incredible sale of a Martian meteorite has taken place at a New York auction, fetching an astounding $4.3 million (£3.2 million). Dubbed NWA 16788, this spectacular piece of space rock weighs 54 pounds (24.5 kg) and measures nearly 15 inches (38.1 cm) long, making it the largest Mars meteorite ever discovered on our planet! It was unearthed in a remote area of Niger back in November 2023, and is about 70% bigger than the next largest Martian meteorite.
Sotheby’s, the auction house behind the sale, highlighted how lucky we are to have this rock on solid ground, as about 70% of Earth is covered in water. Only around 400 Martian meteorites have ever been found, making this reddish-brown beauty “unbelievably rare,” according to Cassandra Hatton, vice-chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby’s.
While the final destination of the meteorite remains a mystery, the total bill for the buyer, including extra taxes and fees, climbed to approximately $5.3 million. The auction, which featured over 100 unique items, also saw impressive sales of a Ceratosaurus skeleton for $26 million and a Pachycephalosaurus skull for $1.4 million. What a cosmic event!
Sotheby’s, the auction house behind the sale, highlighted how lucky we are to have this rock on solid ground, as about 70% of Earth is covered in water. Only around 400 Martian meteorites have ever been found, making this reddish-brown beauty “unbelievably rare,” according to Cassandra Hatton, vice-chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby’s.
While the final destination of the meteorite remains a mystery, the total bill for the buyer, including extra taxes and fees, climbed to approximately $5.3 million. The auction, which featured over 100 unique items, also saw impressive sales of a Ceratosaurus skeleton for $26 million and a Pachycephalosaurus skull for $1.4 million. What a cosmic event!
