What would you pay for a chunk of Mars?
At a New York auction this week, someone shelled out a staggering $4.3 million for the largest Martian meteorite ever discovered on Earth.
Known as NWA 16788, this 54-pound (24.5 kg) space rock is nearly 15 inches long and was unearthed in a remote corner of Niger in late 2023.
According to Sotheby’s, it’s a full 70% larger than any other known piece of Mars ever found here.
What Makes It So Special?
“This is the largest piece of Mars on planet Earth,” said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice-chairman of science and natural history.
“The odds of it even getting here? Astronomically small.”
And she’s not kidding. With 70% of our planet covered in water, the fact that this rock landed on dry land is a near miracle.
And in a spot where it could be recovered is a near miracle.
Only about 400 Martian meteorites have ever been found worldwide.
Who bought it? That’s still a mystery. Sotheby’s is keeping the buyer’s identity under wraps.
Oh, and the Mars rock wasn’t the only star of the show—fossils also stole the spotlight, with a Ceratosaurus skeleton going for $26 million.
Apparently, Earth’s prehistoric past and Mars’ distant surface both come with hefty price tags.
