A 25‑kilogram Martian meteorite—believed to be the largest known fragment of Mars on Earth—sold for $5.3 million at a Sotheby’s geology and archaeology auction on Wednesday.
Catalogued as NWA 16788, the reddish‑brown specimen was found in Niger’s Sahara Desert in November 2023. Scientists say it was blasted off Mars by an ancient asteroid strike, then traveled roughly 225 million km before landing on Earth.
Only about 400 confirmed Martian meteorites exist. Sotheby’s says this rock is 70 percent larger than the next‑biggest sample and represents nearly 7 percent of all verified Martian material on our planet.
The winning bid came in at $4.3 million, with premiums pushing the final price to $5.3 million. Sotheby’s did not identify the buyer.