Largest Martian Meteorite Found on Earth to Auction at Sotheby's

In an extraordinary event set to capture the attention of meteorite enthusiasts and collectors alike, Sotheby's in New York will auction what is touted as the largest piece of Mars ever discovered on Earth. The auction will take place on July 16, 2025, as part of the auction house's Geek Week, which features an array of rare natural history items. The Martian meteorite, designated NWA 16788, weighs an impressive 54.388 pounds (24.67 kg) and is estimated to fetch between $2 million and $4 million.

Discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter in Niger, the specimen is approximately 70% larger than the previously recognized largest Martian meteorite. Cassandra Hatton, Vice Chairman for Science and Natural History at Sotheby's, emphasized the significance of this find, stating, "This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot."

The meteorite is believed to have originated from Mars as a result of a massive asteroid impact that propelled it into space, traveling approximately 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) to Earth, where it ultimately landed in the Sahara Desert. A small sample from the meteorite underwent rigorous analysis at a specialized laboratory, confirming its Martian origins by comparing its chemical composition to Martian meteorites collected during the Viking space probe missions in the 1970s.

This piece is classified as an "olivine-microgabbroic shergottite," a type of Martian rock formed from the slow cooling of magma. It exhibits a coarse-grained texture and is composed of minerals such as pyroxene and olivine. Additionally, its glassy surface, formed during its fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere, further confirms its extraterrestrial nature.

The rarity of this meteorite is underscored by the fact that only 400 Martian meteorites have been officially recognized from a total of over 77,000 meteoric finds on Earth. A significant portion of the Martian material present on Earth is represented by this single specimen, which accounts for nearly 7% of all known Martian material available to collectors and researchers.

In addition to the Martian meteorite, the auction will feature a juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeleton, estimated to reach between $4 million and $6 million. This dinosaur skeleton, which measures over 6 feet (2 meters) tall and nearly 11 feet (3 meters) long, was found in 1996 at Bone Cabin Quarry in Wyoming. It provides insight into the late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago.

The Ceratosaurus is characterized by its bipedal stance and short forelimbs, resembling a smaller version of the famous Tyrannosaurus rex. The skeleton was assembled from nearly 140 fossil bones and sculpted materials by Fossilogic, a fossil preparation company based in Utah.

Sotheby's Geek Week 2025 will showcase a total of 122 items, including meteorites, fossils, and gem-quality minerals, promising an event that highlights the intersection of science, history, and art. As interest in space exploration and extraterrestrial materials continues to grow, this auction is expected to attract significant attention from collectors and the general public alike, making it a notable occasion in the realm of natural history auctions.