For those of us that will probably never set foot on the Red Planet, this large meteorite might be the closest thing to touching Martian soil.
Weighing 24.67 kilograms (54 pounds), the Martian meteorite, officially designated Northwest Africa 16788 (NWA 16788), was discovered in November 2023 in Niger’s Agadez region of the Sahara Desert.
The specimen is now recognized as the largest known piece of Mars on Earth. There’s something especially cool about this hunk of rock that made its way all the way from Mars to us.
The rare meteorite originating from Mars has sold for an astonishing $5.3 million at Sotheby’s, breaking the world record for the highest price ever paid for a meteorite.
Classified as an olivine-microgabbroic shergottite, the meteorite contains minerals such as pyroxene and olivine and features a glossy fusion crust, which is evidence of its fiery entry through Earth’s atmosphere.
Scientists estimate it was blasted off the Martian surface around five million years ago by an asteroid impact, eventually traveling over 225 million kilometers through space before landing on Earth.
Prior to the auction, NWA 16788 was on public display at the Italian Space Agency and a gallery in Tuscany.
While the sale marks a significant milestone in private space memorabilia collecting, it has also raised questions about access to scientifically valuable meteorites.
Scientists have expressed concern that privately held samples, especially those as rare and pristine as NWA 16788, may limit research opportunities.
Only about 400 verified Martian meteorites are known to exist on Earth, and this specimen alone accounts for nearly 7% of all Martian material available.
See more about this impressive meteorite on Sotheby’s website.
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