Overview

• NWA 16788 was uncovered in 2023 in Niger’s Sahara Desert and at nearly 25 kilograms stands as the biggest Martian fragment on Earth.
• Only about 400 of the roughly 77,000 recognized meteorites on Earth originate from Mars, and this specimen is 70 percent larger than the next-largest known piece.
• The meteorite’s reddish-brown fusion crust and ablation pits reveal its fiery atmospheric entry, while minimal terrestrial weathering indicates a recent fall.
• Before consignment, NWA 16788 was shown during the 2024 European Researchers’ Night in Rome and in a private gallery in Arezzo, Tuscany.
• Sotheby’s has set a pre-sale estimate of up to $4 million for the July 16 auction, reflecting soaring interest in rare extraterrestrial materials.