Sotheby's puts largest piece of Mars up for auction at estimated $4 million

In a significant event for collectors and space enthusiasts, Sotheby's in New York prepared to auction a large Martian meteorite known as NWA 16788 on July 16, 2025. This remarkable rock, weighing 54 pounds (25 kilograms), is recognized as the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth. It was ejected from Mars by a massive asteroid impact and traveled 140 million miles to land in the Sahara Desert. The meteorite is about 70% larger than the previous largest piece of Martian material found, and it represents approximately 6.5% of the total Martian samples known on our planet. Sotheby’s estimated the initial bidding would start at $1.6 million, with expectations that it could reach $4 million due to its rarity and scientific importance. The auction is part of Sotheby's Geek Week 2025, which is dedicated to natural history items, displaying 122 unique items including meteorites, fossils, and gems. The interest in NWA 16788 is rooted not just in its size, but also in the particulars of its journey; the rock has minimal weathering since its arrival on Earth, indicating it is a relatively recent find from outer space. Experts have corroborated its Martian origin through detailed testing, comparing its chemical composition to specimens studied during the Viking missions to Mars in the 1970s. Sotheby's officials have hailed NWA 16788 as an incredibly rare discovery, emphasizing its significance to both scientific research and collectors who are captivated by extraterrestrial artifacts. Alongside the meteorite, the auction featured a mounted skeleton of a juvenile Ceratosaurus, showcasing the wide variety of natural history items up for bid. Such auctions not only highlight the intersection of art, science, and commerce, but they also reflect increased public interest in space exploration and the unique items that connect us with the cosmos.