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yesterday

Largest Martian Meteorite Sees Bids Soar to $1.6M Before New York Auction

On view through July 15, the 54-pound specimen carries a $2 million to $4 million estimate that could make it the priciest extraterrestrial object ever sold.

A Martian meteorite, weighing 54.388 lbs. (24.67 kg), said to be the largest piece of Mars on Earth, estimated at $2 - 4 million, is displayed at Sotheby's, in New York, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, part of their Geek Week auction, July 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
A Martian meteorite, weighing 54.388 lbs. (24.67 kg), said to be the largest piece of Mars on Earth, estimated at $2 - 4 million, is displayed at Sotheby's, in New York, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, part of their Geek Week auction, July 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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Overview

  • NWA 16788 is displayed at Sotheby’s New York galleries with early bids reaching $1.6 million ahead of the July 16 Geek Week sale.
  • Laboratory analysis confirmed its Martian origin as an olivine-microgabbroic shergottite matching chemical fingerprints from NASA’s Viking missions.
  • At 54 pounds, the fragment is roughly 70% larger than the previous record holder and represents nearly 7% of all Martian material recovered on Earth.
  • Sotheby’s auction house values the meteorite at $2 million to $4 million, a range that could establish a new benchmark for space-sourced collectibles.
  • The high-profile sale has reignited debates over private ownership versus public research access to rare natural history specimens.