The largest Martian meteorite on Earth sold for $5.3 million at auction

A close-up view of the meteorite’s surface - Sotheby's

A massive Martian meteorite, the largest known specimen of its kind ever discovered on Earth, was recently sold for $5.3 million—including taxes and fees—at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. The buyer chose to remain anonymous.

Designated NWA 16788, the meteorite weighs an impressive 54 pounds (24.5 kilograms), dwarfing most Martian meteorites, which are typically small fragments. According to Sotheby’s, this meteorite is about 70% larger than any other Martian rock previously found on Earth.

Meteorites are remnants of comets, asteroids, or meteoroids that manage to survive their fiery passage through Earth’s atmosphere. NWA 16788 was discovered in November 2023 in the remote Agadez region of Niger. Sotheby’s described it as a “monumental specimen,” noting that fewer than 400 Martian meteorites have ever been identified on our planet.

“This is a discovery of remarkable importance — the largest Martian meteorite ever found on Earth, and the most valuable ever auctioned,” said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice chairman of science and natural history. “Its sheer size, rich red hue, and weathered features make it a truly once-in-a-generation find that offers a physical link to Mars — a planet that continues to inspire awe and curiosity.”

Scientific analysis suggests that NWA 16788 was ejected from Mars following a powerful asteroid collision, with the immense force turning parts of it into glass. This glassy appearance can also be seen on its surface, created as it blazed through Earth’s atmosphere.

However, the sale has raised ethical questions among some in the scientific community. Steve Brusatte, a paleontology and evolution professor at the University of Edinburgh, voiced concern prior to the auction, saying: “It would be disappointing if such a significant find ended up locked away in a private collection. It deserves a place in a museum, where it can be studied and appreciated by the public.”

Others, like planetary scientist Dr. Julia Cartwright from the University of Leicester, see the private sale as part of a necessary system. “Without a marketplace for meteorites, we wouldn’t have nearly as many specimens available for scientific study,” she said in a statement to CNN. She emphasized the “symbiotic relationship” between collectors and researchers that helps advance the field.

While Cartwright hopes the meteorite might eventually be made accessible for research or public display, she noted that a reference sample has already been preserved at the Purple Mountain Observatory in China. “Even though we don’t yet know the final destination of this incredible rock, there’s still potential for valuable scientific discovery,” she added.

This isn’t the first time a Martian meteorite has drawn interest from collectors. In February 2021, another specimen containing traces of Mars' atmosphere was auctioned at Christie’s, selling for $200,000 — far exceeding its original estimate of $30,000–$50,000.

(with inputs from CNN)