Latest news with #CassandraHatton
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Want to own a huge chunk of Mars? It'll likely cost you up to $4 million
A bidder here on Earth will soon shell out a lot of green for a piece of the red planet as Sotheby's puts a Martian meteorite up for auction. NWA 16788, the largest piece of Mars on Earth, is expected to fetch up to $4 million during the July 16 auction in New York City, according to Sotheby's. Pieces of Mars found on Earth are rare. According to the auction house, just 400 of the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites found on Earth — or about 0.6% — are from Mars. The meteorite represents approximately 6.5% of all Martian material currently known on Earth. Meteorites come from meteors, space rocks that enter Earth's atmosphere. Most meteors burn up as they fall toward Earth, but the ones that survive the trip through Earth's atmosphere are considered meteorites. The chunk of Martian rock being auctioned off by Sotheby's was likely dislodged from the planet by an asteroid strike. NWA 16788 traveled 140 million miles through space before it crashed in the Sahara Desert, where it was found in Niger's remote Agadez Region in 2023, according to Sotheby's. "The odds of this getting from there to here are astronomically small," Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice chairman of science and natural history, said in an auction house video. The meteorite weighs just over 54 pounds, which makes it the largest meteorite from Mars, but not the largest meteorite ever found. According to NASA, a meteorite originally weighing over 100 tons once fell to Namibia. It's believed that NWA 16788 is a "relative newcomer here on Earth, having fallen from outer space rather recently," Sotheby's said in its auction listing. The meteorite is on public view at Sotheby's New York galleries until July 15. "This isn't just a miraculous find, but a massive dataset that can help us unlock the secrets of our neighbor, the red planet," Hatton said in the auction house video. Sotheby's regularly auctions meteorites. "Specimens of the Moon and Mars are among the greatest of rarities on our planet — as every bit of both would fit in the cargo hold of a large SUV," the auction house wrote in a 2022 collector's guide. Social media content creator shows his hustle Udemy Is Powering Enterprise AI Transformation Through Skills Surveillance video shows Israeli strike that killed 10 children at Gaza clinic
CBS News
2 days ago
- Science
- CBS News
Want to own a huge chunk of Mars? It'll likely cost you up to $4 million
A bidder here on Earth will soon shell out a lot of green for a piece of the red planet as Sotheby's puts a Martian meteorite up for auction. NWA 16788, the largest piece of Mars on Earth, is expected to fetch up to $4 million during the July 16 auction in New York City, according to Sotheby's. Pieces of Mars found on Earth are rare. According to the auction house, just 400 of the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites found on Earth — or about 0.6% — are from Mars. The meteorite represents approximately 6.5% of all Martian material currently known on Earth. Meteorites come from meteors, space rocks that enter Earth's atmosphere. Most meteors burn up as they fall toward Earth, but the ones that survive the trip through Earth's atmosphere are considered meteorites. The chunk of Martian rock being auctioned off by Sotheby's was likely dislodged from the planet by an asteroid strike. The largest ever Martian meteorite is on view for the first time at Sotheby's before an auction on July 8, 2025, in New York City. The rock is expected to fetch up to $4 million as the biggest chunk of Mars on Earth. Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images NWA 16788 traveled 140 million miles through space before it crashed in the Sahara Desert, where it was found in Niger's remote Agadez Region in 2023, according to Sotheby's. "The odds of this getting from there to here are astronomically small," Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice chairman of science and natural history, said in an auction house video. The meteorite weighs just over 54 pounds, which makes it the largest meteorite from Mars, but not the largest meteorite ever found. According to NASA, a meteorite originally weighing over 100 tons once fell to Namibia. It's believed that NWA 16788 is a "relative newcomer here on Earth, having fallen from outer space rather recently," Sotheby's said in its auction listing. The meteorite is on public view at Sotheby's New York galleries until July 15. "This isn't just a miraculous find, but a massive dataset that can help us unlock the secrets of our neighbor, the red planet," Hatton said in the auction house video. Sotheby's regularly auctions meteorites. "Specimens of the Moon and Mars are among the greatest of rarities on our planet — as every bit of both would fit in the cargo hold of a large SUV," the auction house wrote in a 2022 collector's guide.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Largest Martian meteorite on Earth could fetch millions at New York auction
NEW YORK – The largest-known piece of Mars to be found on Earth will be up for bid and could be sold for up to $4 million at auction. Sotheby's is hosting a natural history auction Wednesday, with the meteorite joining ancient fossils, dinosaur skeletons and unique sandstone formations among items up for bid. Mars Astronauts Would Be Able To See Colorful Aurora Lights During Solar Storms, Scientists Prove The Martian meteorite, called NWA 16788, was discovered in Niger in 2023, according to the The Meteoritical Society at the Lunar and Planetary Institute. A meteorite hunter found the Martian rock and sent a piece of it to Shanghai Astronomy Museum for identification. Meteorites are pieces of space rock called meteoroids that survived the trip from space down to the Earth's surface, according to Nasa. Mars Rover Spotted Cruising Around The Red Planet The reddish-colored meteorite weighs 54 pounds, Sotheby's reported. Bids for the space rock will start at $1.5 million, but Sotheby's estimates the meteorite could sell for between $2 million and $4 million. "NWA 16788 is a discovery of extraordinary significance—the largest Martian meteorite ever found on Earth, and the most valuable of its kind ever offered at auction," said Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman of Science & Natural History at Sotheby's. "This remarkable meteorite provides a tangible connection to the red planet— our celestial neighbor that has long captured the human imagination." Astronaut Photographs Elusive Luminous Event From Far Above Earth Nasa estimates that only 0.2% of meteorites that land on Earth come from Mars and the Moon. The rest come from asteroids. Sotheby's reported NWS 16788 is one of only 400 officially classified Mars meteorites in the article source: Largest Martian meteorite on Earth could fetch millions at New York auction
Ammon
05-07-2025
- Science
- Ammon
Largest Martian rock ever found on Earth is estimated to fetch $4 million at auction
Ammon News - As rare as Cinderella's glass slippers, the largest known piece of Mars on Earth is about to go under the hammer. The Martian rock, unlike the fabled footwear, is entirely acquirable. Sotheby's will play fairy godmother, though you'll need about $4 million to make the magic happen. This 54-pound piece will go home with the highest bidder on July 16 during a Sotheby's New York auction. Called NWA 16788, the specimen is nearly the size of a car tire and will feature in the auction house's natural-history sale. This discovery is historic because previous Martian finds on Earth have been far smaller fragments. 'NWA' stands for Northwest Africa; the reddish-brown stone was unearthed in July 2023 by a meteorite hunter in Niger's Kefkafa region. After extensive testing, including a trip to the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, it was formally classified as a shergottite meteorite in July 2024. One doesn't need to be a science buff to appreciate its significance. The rock is rich in magnesium, while iron is concentrated along its edges, according to Artnet. Fascinatingly, segments of the meteorite contain glass formed when it was blasted off Mars and scorched through Earth's atmosphere before landing in Niger's Sahara Desert. Weighing nearly 25 kg, its epic journey alone helps justify the projected $4 million price tag. 'Its immense size and unmistakable red color set it apart as a once-in-a-generation find,' said Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby's. 'This remarkable meteorite provides a tangible connection to the red planet, our celestial neighbor that has long captured the human imagination.' A couple of years ago, a 30-pound lunar rock came to market for $2.5 million, and with this specimen tipping the scales at 54 pounds, it could easily surpass that estimate. Luxury Launches
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Largest Mars rock could sell for a staggering $4 million
A rare and massive meteorite from Mars , known as NWA 16788, is poised to make headlines as it heads to auction with an estimated price of up to $4 million. Weighing 54 pounds (24.5 kilograms), it is the largest known piece of the Red Planet ever discovered on Earth, making it 70% larger than any previously found Martian meteorite. First unearthed in Niger's remote Agadez region in November 2023, this extraordinary specimen is not only scientifically significant but also visually striking, with a glassy crust and deep red hues that reflect its Martian origin. Martian Rock: A once-in-a-generation discovery According to Sotheby's, the auction house hosting the sale on July 16 in New York, NWA 16788 is among just 400 confirmed Martian meteorites ever found. Its immense size and exceptional condition set it apart from the usual small fragments that survive Earth's atmosphere. Cassandra Hatton, Vice Chairman of Science and Natural History at Sotheby's, described it as 'a discovery of extraordinary significance... a tangible connection to the Red Planet.' The meteorite likely arrived on Earth after a powerful asteroid impact blasted it from Mars millions of years ago. Scientific insights encased in glass Analysis reveals that parts of NWA 16788 were turned to glass during its ejection from Mars and again during its fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere. Planetary scientist Julia Cartwright of the University of Leicester called it a 'fabulous rock,' noting that a reference sample is secured at China's Purple Mountain Observatory, ensuring future scientific study. She emphasized the balance between private collecting and academic access: 'Without the market, we wouldn't have nearly as many samples to study.' Public or private? Experts weigh in While some scientists, like Professor Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh, express concern that the rock might vanish into a private vault, others recognize the role collectors play. 'It would be a shame if it disappeared from public view,' said Brusatte. Cartwright, however, remains optimistic, suggesting the new owner could still collaborate with researchers. The meteorite's fate may remain unknown after the auction, but its legacy in planetary science is already secured.
