Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice-chairman for science and natural history, expressed the meteorite's unique journey to Earth, indicating that its landing on solid ground rather than water made it an exceptional find. Information remains undisclosed regarding the buyer and where this extraordinary specimen will reside. Making waves in the auction world, the event also included a Ceratosaurus skeleton sale for $26 million and highlighted the growing interest in celestial artifacts and prehistoric remains alike.
Rare Mars Meteorite Fetches $4.3M at New York Auction
Rare Mars Meteorite Fetches $4.3M at New York Auction
An extraordinary Martian rock, the largest of its kind found on Earth, sells at a record price during a prestigious auction.
In an unprecedented auction event in New York, a remarkable meteorite known as NWA 16788, weighing 54 pounds and measuring nearly 15 inches long, was sold for $4.3 million. Discovered in Niger in November 2023, this reddish-brown rock is a part of the rare Martian meteorite collection on Earth, estimated at just about 400 pieces historically. Sotheby's hailed NWA 16788 as a pinnacle of rarity, emphasizing its monumental size—70% larger than its nearest competitor.
