This extraordinary Martian meteorite — the biggest piece of Mars ever found on Earth — created a buzz at a Sotheby’s auction in New York City Wednesday night. It sold for a jaw-dropping $4.3 million! In November 2023, a team of researchers stumbled across an incredible discovery while working in a remote desert area of Niger. This unique Martian rock is 70% bigger than the next biggest one they have recovered, underscoring its extraordinary importance to the scientific community.
The auction had more than 100 items listed, but the star of the show was the Martian meteorite, both for its rarity and size. There have only been about 400 Martian meteorites ever found on Earth. With its upcoming sale, it’s a great time for both collectors and new enthusiasts interested in “classic car equity.” With additional taxes and fees, their final price was right around $5.3 million.
Cassandra Hatton, vice-chairman of science and natural history at Sotheby’s, called the meteorite “absolutely unique.”
“This is the largest piece of Mars on planet Earth. The odds of this getting from there to here are astronomically small.” – Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s
Professionals have defined the Martian meteorite as a remnant stone. This unique rock actually was produced when an asteroid or comet entered into Earth’s atmosphere. This is actually what distinguishes meteorites and their stories as a whole. Its extraordinary discovery furthers our planet’s understanding of Martian geology and offers important clues into the historic evolution of the planet.
For science, the sale of the meteorite is an amazing milestone. It sends a shockwave through the auction market, where rare examples can go for jaw-dropping sums. The sale is emblematic of the growing interest in otherworldly materials. Collectors are quickly trying to get their hands on pieces that are not only scientifically important, but historical gold mines.