NWA 16788

A colossal 54-pound (24.5-kg) Martian meteorite, the largest known fragment of Mars ever discovered on Earth, has sold for an astounding $5.3 million at Sotheby’s, setting a new auction record for a meteorite.

The Auction and Discovery

• The auction for the remarkable rock, officially named NWA 16788, ignited a competitive 15-minute bidding war between online participants and phone bidders. This significant fragment was unearthed in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter in the remote Agadez region of Niger, deep within the Sahara Desert.

Martian Origins and Earthly Descent

• Scientists estimate that approximately 5 million years ago, a powerful impact event—likely from an asteroid or comet—slammed into Mars. This collision was so forceful that it launched rocks and other debris, including NWA 16788, into space.

• Much like its planetary origin, NWA 16788 exhibits a distinctive reddish hue. It also bears clear signs of a fusion crust, a glassy layer formed on its surface due to the extreme heat generated during its fiery descent through Earth’s atmosphere.

Rarity and Significance

• There are approximately 400 officially recognized Martian meteorites that have been found on Earth. Among these, NWA 16788 stands out dramatically as it is, by far, the largest known piece, making its sale a landmark event in the world of space artifacts.