Largest Mars Meteorite Ever Found Sells for $4.3 Million

The largest piece of Mars ever discovered on Earth, the meteorite NWA 16788, was sold at auction for an astonishing $4.3 million in New York. Weighing 54 pounds and measuring nearly 15 inches in length, this rare Martian rock was unearthed in Niger last November. Sotheby's auction house emphasizes its uniqueness, noting that it is significantly larger than any other Martian meteorite found before it, confirming that only around 400 such pieces have been identified on Earth.

Described as "unbelievably rare," the reddish-brown meteorite represents a remarkable find, according to Cassandra Hatton, vice-chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby's. The odds of this meteorite reaching Earth—and landing on solid ground rather than in the oceans—are astronomically low. The total price for the meteorite, which includes taxes and fees, surged to about $5.3 million. This auction was a part of a larger event that saw a Ceratosaurus skeleton fetching $26 million and a Pachycephalosaurus skull selling for $1.4 million, showcasing the immense interest in both natural history and space exploration relics.