NWA 16788 was found in the Sahara Desert in November 2023. It is 70% larger than any known Martian meteorite. (Image courtesy of Sotheby's)
The largest known Martian meteorite sold at auction for $5.29 million, well above its asking price of $2 million to $4 million. This impressive specimen of the Red Planet could provide new insights into our cosmic neighbor if properly studied.
The meteorite, known as Northwest Africa (NWA) 16788, is about twice the size of a basketball and weighs 54 pounds (24.5 kilograms), making it “the largest known fragment of Mars ever found on Earth,” according to auction house Sotheby's, which is selling the space rock.
According to Sotheby's, the meteorite is about 70% larger than the previous largest known Martian meteorite and is described as having a “rich red colour” and a “glassy crust”.
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