The largest known Martian meteorite ever found on Earth, NWA 16788, was sold at auction for an impressive sum of $5.3 million. The sale was carried out by the auction house Sotheby's, but the name of the buyer was not disclosed. Before the auction, the meteorite was stored in Italy.
Origin and discovery
With a mass of 24.67 kg, NWA 16788 is a piece of rock that broke off from the surface of Mars many years ago, probably after an asteroid collided with the Red Planet. This remarkable object was discovered in the Sahara Desert in Niger in November 2023.
Characteristics and Composition
As described by Sotheby's, NWA 16788 is covered in a distinctive reddish-brown crust that formed as a result of its melting upon entry into Earth's atmosphere, giving it a distinctive Martian hue. Its surface also shows "regmaglypts" or indentations - traces of friction during its rapid passage through Earth's atmosphere.
The meteorite arrived on Earth relatively recently, which has contributed to the preservation of its physical and chemical composition. Expert studies of fragments of NWA 16788 show a chemical composition that is similar to samples of Martian rock collected and analyzed on the surface of Mars by the "Viking" by NASA in 1976.
Rarity and Significance
Martian meteorites are extremely rare. Although over 77,000 meteorites have been recorded, only about 400 of them are of Martian origin. NWA 16788 is distinguished by its size, being 70% larger than any other known Martian meteorite previously discovered on Earth. The object was put up for sale on July 13 and was previously part of a private gallery in Arezzo, Italy. In 2024, it was also exhibited at the Italian Space Agency in Rome. Sotheby's did not disclose the names of either the previous or new owners of this unique Martian artifact.