Largest Known Martian Meteorite Sells for $4.3 Million at Auction

A Martian meteorite weighing 54 pounds (24.5 kilograms), identified as NWA 16788, was sold to an anonymous bidder for $4.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York on Wednesday. According to Sotheby’s, the specimen is the largest known piece of Mars ever found on Earth and is about 70% larger than the next biggest Martian meteorite discovered. Only around 400 Martian meteorites have been identified globally.

The meteorite was discovered in November 2023 in the Agadez region of Niger. Sotheby’s described it as a rare and significant find, noting its size and distinctive red coloration. Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby’s, called NWA 16788 a discovery of "extraordinary significance" and the most valuable Martian meteorite ever offered at auction.

Scientific analysis suggests the meteorite was ejected from Mars by a powerful asteroid impact, which partially turned its material into glass. A glassy crust formed as it entered Earth’s atmosphere, according to Sotheby’s.

The sale has prompted discussion among scientists about the fate of such rare specimens. Steve Brusatte, a professor at the University of Edinburgh, expressed concern that the meteorite might be kept in private hands, stating, > "It belongs in a museum, where it can be studied, and where it can be enjoyed by children and families and the public at large."

Julia Cartwright, a planetary scientist at the University of Leicester, noted the importance of private collectors in advancing research. She described a "symbiotic relationship" between researchers and collectors, explaining that the market for meteorites helps increase the number of samples available for study. Cartwright also pointed out that a reference sample from NWA 16788 has been preserved at the Purple Mountain Observatory in China, and expressed hope that scientific research on the meteorite will continue regardless of its new ownership.

Previous Martian meteorites have also attracted high prices at auction. In February 2021, another specimen containing Martian atmosphere sold for $200,000, exceeding its pre-auction estimate.