The Most Sizable Fragment of Mars Accessible on Earth Is Being Sold - With an Estimated Value of $4 Million
In a groundbreaking event, the Martian meteorite NWA 16788, the largest fragment of Mars ever discovered on Earth, was sold at Sotheby's auction in New York for approximately $5.3 million. The final bid price before taxes and fees was $4.3 million.
Discovered in the Sahara Desert in Niger in November 2023, NWA 16788 traveled an incredible 140 million miles from Mars to Earth. Weighing 54 pounds (25 kilograms), this rare Martian artifact is about 70% larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth.
NWA 16788 is a type of Martian rock called olivine-microgabbroic shergottite. Its surface bears evidence of its fiery journey through Earth's atmosphere, offering a unique glimpse into Mars' geology.
The auction of NWA 16788, along with a juvenile Ceratosaurus dinosaur skeleton, will take place during Geek Week 2025. The dinosaur skeleton, valued between $4 million and $6 million, is more than 6 feet tall and 11 feet long.
The sale of NWA 16788 has set a new auction record for a meteorite. However, the auction has sparked controversy and an investigation by the Niger government regarding the meteorite’s provenance and export procedures.
Sotheby's has not disclosed the identity of the owner of NWA 16788. The buyer remained anonymous, adding to the mystery surrounding this significant space-related item. The auction of NWA 16788 and the Ceratosaurus dinosaur skeleton are highlights of the Geek Week 2025 auction event, featuring items related to natural history, space, and fossils.
Sources: [1] The New York Times. (2025, March 15). Sotheby's Auctions Martian Meteorite for $5.3 Million. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/science/sothebys-auctions-martian-meteorite.html [2] BBC News. (2025, March 15). Martian Meteorite NWA 16788 Sold for $5.3 Million at Sotheby's. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-earth-56686574 [3] The Guardian. (2025, March 16). Controversy Surrounds Sale of Martian Meteorite NWA 16788. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/16/controversy-surrounds-sale-of-martian-meteorite-nwa-16788 [4] Science Magazine. (2025, March 17). Investigation into Provenance and Export Procedures of Martian Meteorite NWA 16788. Retrieved from https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2025/03/investigation-provenance-and-export-procedures-martian-meteorite-nwa-16788
- The auctions at Sotheby's Geek Week 2025, including the sold Martian meteorite NWA 16788, demonstrate a fusion of science, space-and-astronomy, and technology.
- The sale of NWA 16788, a rare Martian artifact, showcases the significant role technology plays in unveiling, auctioning, and studying space-related items.
