Largest known Mars meteorite sells for $5.3 million at Sotheby’s

Srinagar, July 18: A rare piece of Mars has made history on Earth. Officially named NWA 16788, the 24.5-kg Martian meteorite — the largest of its kind ever found — sold for a record-breaking $5.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, far exceeding its original estimate of $2–4 million.

Discovered in November 2023 by a seasoned meteorite hunter, NWA 16788 is remarkable not only for its m***ive size but also for its distinctive reddish hue. Its journey from the Red Planet to Earth has captivated scientists and collectors alike.

The auction saw a tense 15-minute bidding war between online and phone buyers, ending with an anonymous collector winning the ultra-rare Martian relic — now the most expensive meteorite ever sold at auction.