The largest Martian meteorite ever found on Earth has just been sold for a staggering $4.3 million at Sotheby’s New York, raising both excitement and questions across the space science community.
Weighing 54 pounds (24.5 kg) and officially named NWA 16788, this rare specimen is 70% larger than any other known Martian meteorite. Discovered in the Agadez region of Niger in late 2023, the rock is not only massive, but visibly stunning — weathered by time and painted with Mars’ iconic reddish hue.
Its origins are just as dramatic. Scientists believe NWA 16788 was ejected from Mars during a colossal asteroid impact, which turned part of its interior into glass. That glassy texture and crust are still visible, a cosmic signature of its violent history.
Only around 400 Martian meteorites have ever been found on Earth, making this a once-in-a-generation discovery. But it wasn’t sold to a museum. It was purchased by an anonymous bidder, and that has sparked concern.
“This belongs in a museum,” said Professor Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh. Others, like planetary scientist Julia Cartwright, see value in private collecting, noting that the search for meteorites is often driven by this very market. A reference sample of the meteorite has been saved in China’s Purple Mountain Observatory — ensuring at least part of the rock remains available for science.
Still, the ultimate fate of the full meteorite is unknown. Will it be studied, displayed — or locked away in a private vault?
Whatever its destiny, NWA 16788 reminds us just how close Mars is coming to Earth — both in science and imagination.
