WEB DESK: An “unbelievably rare” piece of Mars the largest ever found on earth has sold at a New York auction for $4.3 million (£3.2 million). The meteorite, identified as NWA 16788, is notable for being the largest Martian rock ever discovered on Earth.
Weighing approximately 54 pounds (24.5 kilograms) and measuring nearly 15 inches (38.1 centimeters) in length, the meteorite was found in a secluded area of Niger in November 2023, according to Sotheby’s. The auction house highlighted that this specimen surpasses all other known Martian meteorites in size by about 70%, making it a monumental find.
Meteorites are remnants of space rocks that survive atmospheric entry and land on Earth. This particular piece is distinguished not only by its size but also by its rarity. Sotheby’s described it as an “unbelievably rare” sample, with only around 400 Martian meteorites known to science.
Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice-chairman for science and natural history, emphasized the significance: “This is the largest piece of Mars on Earth. The chances of it arriving here are astronomically slim.” She added that it’s fortunate it landed on land rather than in the ocean, which covers roughly 70% of Earth’s surface, making recovery much more difficult.
The final sale price, including taxes and fees, reached approximately $5.3 million. The buyer’s identity remains confidential.The auction event featured over 100 items, including a Jurassic-period Ceratosaurus skeleton which sold for $26 million, and a Pachycephalosaurus skull that went for $1.4 million
