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A rare Martian specimen – the largest ever located on Earth- fetched a bid of $4.3 million at a New York auction on Wednesday. The meteorite, referred to as NWA 16788, has a weight of 54lb (24.5kg) and measures nearly 15in (38.1cm) in length, as reported by Sotheby’s.
“This is the largest piece of Mars on planet Earth. The odds of this getting from there to here are astronomically small,” Cassandra Hatton, Vice Chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby’s, said in a video posted online.
It was uncovered in a remote area of Niger in November 2023 and is 70% larger than the second-largest recovered Martian fragment, according to the auction house.
Meteorites consist of remnants of rock that remain after an asteroid or comet travels through Earth’s atmosphere.
With additional taxes and fees, the final cost of the rock reached approximately $5.3 million, stated Sotheby’s, which described the reddish-brown stone as “exceptionally rare.” Only around 400 Martian meteorites are known to have been found on Earth.
It remains unknown where the meteorite will ultimately end up, as details concerning the sale will remain confidential.
