2025-07-18T05:59:26Z

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Can you imagine owning a piece of Mars? Well, someone just did! A massive 24.5-kilogram Martian meteorite has shattered auction records, fetching an astounding $5.3 million at Sotheby's. This isn't just any space rock—it's the largest known piece of Mars to ever land on Earth.

The meteorite, charmingly dubbed NWA 16788, sparked a lively bidding battle during Sotheby’s New York auction. In a nail-biting 15-minute showdown, online and phone bidders vied for this rare treasure, ultimately landing it in the hands of an anonymous buyer. The final price soared past its initial estimate of $2-4 million, underscoring its unique allure and scientific value.

Originating from Mars, the meteorite’s journey is a tale of cosmic adventure. Scientists confirm that about five million years ago, a cataclysmic asteroid or comet impact knocked this chunk off the Martian surface, launching it on an epic 140-million-mile trek through space before it crash-landed on Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara Desert's Agadez region by a skilled meteorite hunter, a testament to the serendipity and expertise involved in such finds.

Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice-chairman and global head of science and natural history, remarked on the meteorite’s miraculous survival from atmospheric annihilation or oceanic oblivion, highlighting its rarity and significance. Laboratory tests confirmed its Martian origin and its unprecedented size, being about 70% larger than any other known Martian fragment on our planet.

With only about 400 Martian meteorites officially recognized globally, NWA 16788 is celebrated for its impressive mass, distinct reddish hue, and a unique fusion crust—evidence of its dramatic passage through Earth's atmosphere. As Hatton put it, this piece is not only the largest Martian meteorite on Earth, but its sheer size and extraordinary journey mark it as a once-in-a-generation discovery.