A rare and exceptionally large piece of Mars has been sold for a record-breaking $5.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction. The 54-pound meteorite, known as NWA 16788, is approximately 70 percent larger than the second-largest Martian meteorite found on Earth.
NWA 16788 was discovered in 2023 in a remote area of the Sahara Desert in Niger. Its reddish-brown exterior bears a striking resemblance to the Red Planet’s surface. The meteorite measures 14.75 x 11 x 6 inches and is composed of over 21 percent maskelynite, a glass formed when an asteroid struck Mars.
Only 400 of the 77,000+ officially recognized meteorites hail from Mars, making NWA 16788 an extremely rare find. The winning bid was $4.3 million, but after fees, the total sale price exceeds $5.3 million, solidifying it as the most valuable meteorite ever sold.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/science/space/someone-paid-53-million-for-a-piece-of-mars-191502853.html