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India Today
5 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Rock that fell on Earth from Mars sells for $5.3 million in Sotheby's auction
A colossal piece of Mars made history this week, as a 24.5-kg Martian meteorite, the largest known piece of the Red Planet found on Earth, sold for $5.3 million at Sotheby's, setting a new auction record for a meteorite, officially named NWA 16788, drew a flurry of excitement during Sotheby's New York auction.A spirited 15-minute bidding war between online and phone participants ultimately landed the ultra-rare specimen with an anonymous buyer, far surpassing its initial estimate of $2-4 million. Scientists confirmed not only its Martian origin but also its record-breaking size. (Photo: Reuters) advertisementFrom Martian Surface to Sahara Sands Discovered in November 2023 by a seasoned meteorite hunter in Niger's remote Agadez region of the Sahara Desert, NWA 16788's journey to Earth is nothing short of say that about five million years ago, a powerful asteroid or comet impact blasted it off the Martian crust, sending it on a 140-million-mile odyssey through space before it plummeted to Earth.'It's incredible that it made it through and crashed in the desert, where someone who could recognize its significance found it,' said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice-chairman and global head of science and natural history, ahead of the sale. She noted that most such space debris burns up in the planet's atmosphere or falls into the ocean, making this find even more tested in specialised labs, scientists confirmed not only its Martian origin but also its record-breaking size: about 70% larger than the next-biggest Martian fragment on only around 400 officially recognised Martian meteorites found worldwide, NWA 16788 stands out for its sheer mass, vibrant reddish hue, and fusion crust—a telltale sign of its fiery atmospheric descent.'This is the largest piece of Mars on the planet,' Hatton emphasised. 'Its sheer size and remarkable journey make it a once-in-a-generation discovery.- Ends
Business Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Business Times
Martian meteorite sells for record US$5.3 million at Sotheby's
[NEW YORK] A 24.5-kg Martian meteorite that is the largest known piece of Mars found on Earth has sold for US$5.3 million at Sotheby's, setting a new auction record for a meteorite. The auction on Wednesday (Jul 16) for the rock known as NWA 16788 sparked a 15-minute bidding war between online and phone bidders. 'This is an amazing Martian meteorite that broke off of the Martian surface,' said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's vice-chairman and global head of science and natural history, ahead of the auction. The fragment was discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter in the Sahara Desert, in Niger's remote Agadez region. 'The people there knew already that it was something special,' said Hatton. 'It wasn't until it got to the lab and pieces were tested that we realised, 'Oh my gosh, it's Martian.' And then when those results came back and we compared and saw, OK, it's not just Martian, it is the biggest piece of Mars on the planet.' About five million years ago, an asteroid or comet slammed into Mars so hard that rocks and other debris launched into space. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up 'So it comes hurtling... 140 million miles through space, makes it through Earth's atmosphere,' said Hatton, noting that most things burn up in our planet's atmosphere. 'It's incredible that it made it through and then that it crashed in the middle of the desert instead of the middle of the ocean, in a place where we could find it, and that somebody who could recognise what it was found it. 'So there's a whole kind of process or a layer of things that have to happen in order for this to become reality and be here in front of us.' Just like its mother planet, NWA 16788 has a distinctly reddish hue, as well as signs of fusion crust from its violent descent through Earth's atmosphere. There are about 400 officially recognised Martian meteorites on Earth, of which NWA 16788 is by far the largest. REUTERS
National Geographic
6 days ago
- Science
- National Geographic
Who wants to buy a piece of Mars?
The largest piece of Mars on Earth became the most valuable meteorite ever sold at auction at Sotheby's annual 'Geek Week,' and a full Ceratosaurus skeleton fetched $30 million. Next up for bidding: an Apple computer hand-built by Steve Jobs. The piece of Mars being auctioned through Sotheby's. Weighing in at 54 pounds, this is the largest piece of Mars on Earth, and is the most valuable Meteorite ever found. Photograph Courtesy of Sotheby's In the end, the long-dead dinosaur outperformed the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth. At Sotheby's on Wednesday , an exhibition-ready, mounted skeleton of a 150-million-year-old dinosaur—a juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis—sold for $30.5 million (including fees and costs), far exceeding its estimate of $6 million. Meanwhile, the Mars-originating, 54-pound meteorite named NWA 16788 sold for $5.3 million—in sluggish bidding, without fees and costs included, it fetched just $300,000 over its upper estimate of $4 million. Still, it remains the most valuable meteorite ever sold at auction. The Ceratosaurus, dating from the late Jurassic Period and originally found in Bone Cabin Quarry, Wyoming in 1996, measures around 6 feet 3 inches in height, and 10 feet 8 inches in length. Consisting of 139 original fossil bone elements with additional sculpted materials, the skeleton has a virtually complete skull and 43 present teeth. Collectors from 37 countries bid for it. Also among the 122 objects up for auction on Wednesday was the largest-known lunar sphere—at $825,500 setting the record for most valuable lunar meteorite ever sold at auction, and taking its place as the second most valuable meteorite ever sold at auction after the Martian meteorite. NWA 16788, The Largest Piece of Mars on Earth, est. $2,000,000-$4,000,000 is featured during Sotheby's "Geek Week" Sales in New York, NY, July 8, 2025 Photography by Efren Landaos/Sipa USA, AP Images The original LED sign from SEGA's The Lost World: Jurassic Park Light Gun Arcade Game sold for around $20,000, the skull of a Pachycephalosaurus for $1.8 million, a Neanderthal tool set dated to around 400,000 years ago for $57,150, and the skeleton of a large cave bear found in Eastern Europe for $35,560. Cassandra Hatton, Vice Chairman, Global Head, Science & Natural History, Sotheby's, said: 'These stellar results underscore a deep and enduring fascination and respect for the natural world—from the farthest reaches of space to the ancient depths of the Earth. What draws collectors is more than just a passion for science; it's a deep-seated curiosity about the forces that have shaped our planet and beyond.' (Let's give Ceratoraurus a hand) A hot market for dinos The winning, as yet anonymous, buyer of the Ceratosaurus intends to loan it to an institution, 'as is fitting for a specimen of this rarity and importance,' Sotheby's said in a statement. 'Whether they will reveal their identity is not something I have the answer to,' Hatton told National Geographic, adding that she wasn't surprised the Ceratosaurus had commanded such a high price. 'It's a beautiful fossil, rare and important. I think it more than deserves the price it sold for.' Detail of the piece of Mars being auctioned off at Sotheby's 'Geek Week.' Photograph Courtesy of Sotheby's The bidding on the meteorite, Hatton said, had been slower because buyers were more tentative around something that has not had a comparable antecedent in the market. 'In the absence of a bidding precedent, you're going to look at the behavior of the other bidders,' she said. 'No one wants to be the person to make the first move.' In time, buyers may become as enthusiastic over meteorites as they are for dinosaur fossils and bones, Hatton said. Last year at Sotheby's, billionaire Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of hedge fund Citadel, successfully bid $44.6 million for a 150 million-year-old, 11-foot tall, 27-foot long stegosaurus skeleton, named 'Apex'—the most valuable fossil ever sold at auction. It had been only expected to fetch $6 million. Some have voiced concern over the high-priced market. Andre LuJan, president of the Association of Applied Paleontology, told The New York Times that the increasing prices of leases for land where such finds were made were harming both academic research and commercial operators. (Odd Martian meteorites traced back to largest volcanic structure in the solar system) Hatton said both landowners and people who do the excavations should be paid 'properly' for their part in fossil discoveries—traditionally both parties have been 'cheated' in the process, she said. It was important to 'diversify' the types of fossils coming to market, Hatton told National Geographic, as nuances within the field—'the Stegosaurus market is different to the T. rex market, which is different to the Ceratosaurus market'—inform not just pricing models, but such matters as how museums calculate insurance values. The largest piece of Mars on Earth The 'incredibly rare' NWA 16788 meteorite measures 14¾ x 11 x 6 inches and was apparently blown off the surface of Mars, then traveled the 140 million miles to Earth, crashing into the Sahara. Classified as an olivine-microgabbroic shergottite, a type of Martian rock formed from the slow cooling of Martian magma, it was discovered by a meteorite hunter in Niger's remote Agadez region in November 2023. Pieces of Mars are 'unbelievably rare,' Sotheby's said—of the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites, only 400 are Martian meteorites. 'This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot,' Hatton told the AP . 'So it's more than double the size of what we previously thought was the largest piece of Mars.' NWA 16788 is approximately 70 percent larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth, and covered in a reddish-brown fusion crust, giving it 'a Martian hue.' Sotheby's said the meteorite had endured 'minimal terrestrial weathering,' and was 'a likely a relative newcomer here on Earth, having fallen from outer space rather recently.' Prior to landing at Sotheby's, NWA 16788 was exhibited at the Italian Space Agency in Rome in 2024 and in a private gallery in Arezzo, Tuscany. (Meteorites on Earth may be from an ancient crater on Mars) On Thursday afternoon, the final sale of Geek Week will feature what Sotheby's says is 'the finest operational Apple-1 computer in existence,' from the first batch of 50 hand built by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs in 1976. The estimated auction price stands between $400,000 and $600,000. Hatton declined to say what buyers could expect to bid on at Geek Week 2026. 'Space exploration was my first auction and my first passion,' she told National Geographic. 'I love the history of science and technology, the manuscripts, books, and Enigma machines. It's so great to get these objects in, and to tell their individual stories.'
New York Post
6 days ago
- Science
- New York Post
Largest Martian meteorite sells for a whopping $5.3M at auction: ‘Geological time capsule from another world'
This record-breaking rock had losing bidders seeing red. At one of Sotheby's Geek Week events, hosted at NYC's own American Museum of Natural History, this Martian meteorite smashed through bidding expectations, which were between $2M to $4M. Advertisement This meteorite, affectionately dubbed NWA 16788, isn't just any space rock, though. At a stunning $5.3 million, not only did it fetch the highest price of any meteorite ever, it's also the largest, most scientifically significant piece of Mars that we Earthlings have access to. At 54 pounds, the meteorite is approximately the size of two basketballs. 'NWA 16788 is a geological time capsule from another world,' Sotheby's representatives wrote. 'With fewer than 400 Martian meteorites ever recorded, and most no larger than a pebble, this specimen offers the biggest tangible connection to a planet that has captivated humanity for centuries.' Advertisement The space rock was discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter — yes, that's a real job — in the middle of the Nigerian Sahara desert. The supermassive shooting star is made up of Martian magma and is among the 5.4% of Martian meteorites to boast the particularly rare geological classification, olivine-microgabbroic. AP Unsurprisingly, the meteorite from the Red planet is, in fact, red. According to Sotheby's analysts, who have examined it up close and personal, it's a deep, rusty shade with a glassy crust. 'NWA 16788 shows minimal terrestrial weathering, indicating that its physical and chemical makeup have not been significantly altered since its arrival in the Sahara Desert,' Sotheby's explained in the release. 'In other words, NWA 16788 is likely a relative newcomer here on Earth, having fallen from outer space rather recently.' Advertisement According to Sotheby's, researchers believe this rock was launched off the red planet when another forceful asteroid hit Mars' surface. AFP via Getty Images Before it was sold, the meteorite was publicly exhibited at the Italian Space Agency in Rome and in a private gallery in Tuscany. Though the buyer, who was not publicly identified, certainly paid a pretty penny for the rights to the rock, some scientists have reservations about the whole affair — particularly because of the possibilities for new research the meteorite presents. Advertisement 'It would be a shame if it disappeared into the vault of an oligarch. 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,' Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at the University of Edinburgh, told CNN. A mere chunk of mineral it may be, but this meteorite is far from lonely in its exorbitant price. In 2020, a 4½-pound meteorite crashed through an Indonesian man's roof. According to experts, the rare rock was over 4.5 billion years old and was worth almost $2M. In the end, this meteorite was also purchased by a private meteorite collector. However, meteorites typically land in oceans, deserts, forests and other uninhabited areas, much like NWA 16788.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Sotheby's to auction largest Mars rock ever found on Earth in New York; here's how it came to our planet
A rare Martian meteorite and a juvenile dinosaur skeleton are among the star attractions at Sotheby's highly anticipated Geek Week 2025 auction in New York. This extraordinary event features 122 exclusive items from natural history, spanning outer space to prehistoric Earth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Martian meteorite, weighing 54 pounds (25 kg), is the largest of its kind ever discovered on Earth and is estimated to fetch up to $4 million. Meanwhile, the nearly complete Ceratosaurus skeleton—over 6 feet tall—is expected to sell for as much as $6 million. Both items represent monumental finds in planetary science and paleontology, making them irresistible to collectors, researchers, and science enthusiasts. Largest piece of Mars rock ever found heads to auction in New York Sotheby's will auction the Martian meteorite known as NWA 16788, a 54-pound extraterrestrial rock that is 70% larger than any previously discovered Martian sample on Earth. Valued between $2 million and $4 million, the meteorite could become a prized possession in the world of scientific collectibles. A 54.388-pound (24.67 kg) Martian meteorite—believed to be the largest known fragment of Mars on Earth iis on display at Sotheby's in New York ahead of its auction on July 16, 2025, as part of the Geek Week event. The rare specimen is estimated to fetch between $2 million and $4 million. Source: Sotheyby's How did the largest Martian rock arrive on Earth? According to Sotheby's, the meteorite originated from Mars after a powerful asteroid impact ejected it into space. The rock then traveled roughly 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) before crash-landing in the Sahara Desert. It was recovered by a meteorite hunter in Niger in November 2023. Measuring approximately 15 x 11 x 6 inches, it accounts for nearly 7% of all Martian material currently on Earth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To confirm its authenticity, scientists extracted a small portion of the rock for laboratory analysis. The results revealed that it is an olivine-microgabbroic shergottite, a type of Martian volcanic rock that cools slowly. The meteorite contains minerals such as pyroxene and olivine and exhibits surface melting patterns typical of fiery entry into Earth's atmosphere. Its chemical fingerprint matched that of Martian meteorites first identified by NASA's Viking missions in 1976. Dinosaur skeleton from the Jurassic period also in auction Another highlight of Geek Week 2025 is the auction of a juvenile Ceratosaurus skeleton, standing over 6 feet tall and stretching nearly 11 feet in length. Discovered in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, at Bone Cabin Quarry, the specimen was mounted using 140 fossilized bones and sculpted reconstructions. Its estimated value ranges from $4 million to $6 million. The Ceratosaurus was a bipedal predator from the Jurassic era, similar in appearance to the Tyrannosaurus rex but notably smaller. Its distinct features include short arms, sharp teeth, and a prominent nasal horn. Source: Sotheyby's Both the meteorite and dinosaur fossil are part of a broader 122-lot auction that includes rare meteorites, fossils, and gem-quality minerals. The Martian rock was previously on display at the Italian Space Agency in Rome, while the dinosaur skeleton was prepared by Fossilogic, a Utah-based fossil restoration firm. Geek Week 2025 offers a unique opportunity for collectors, institutions, and enthusiasts to own a piece of planetary and prehistoric history. Largest Martian rock in auction in New York FAQs What is the Martian meteorite being auctioned called? It is known as NWA 16788, the largest known Martian meteorite on Earth. How much does the meteorite weigh? The meteorite weighs 54.388 pounds (24.67 kilograms). What is the estimated auction price? It is expected to sell for $2 million to $4 million. Where and when is the auction taking place? The auction will be held at Sotheby's in New York on July 16, 2025, during Geek Week. How was its Martian origin confirmed? Scientists analyzed its chemical composition, which matches rocks identified during NASA's Viking mission on Mars. Also Read |
