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10h ago

Martian Meteorite NWA 16788 Goes on Display Ahead of Sotheby’s $2–4 Million Auction

The exhibition invites bidders to preview an exceptional olivine-microgabbroic shergottite whose private sale raises concerns over restricting scientific access.

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)
A mounted Juvenile Ceratosaurus skeleton, of the Late Jurassic, Kimmeridgian Stage, approximately 154-149 million years ago, estimated at $4 - 6 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 represents nearly 7 percent of Earth’s known Martian material, making it the largest fragment from Mars ever recovered
  • Scientists confirmed its Martian origin by matching the meteorite’s chemistry to atmospheric data collected by NASA’s Viking probe in 1976
  • Geological analysis identifies it as an olivine-microgabbroic shergottite containing pyroxene, olivine and maskelynite, featuring a fusion crust formed during fiery atmospheric entry
  • Viewings in New York precede a Sotheby’s Geek Week auction on July 16 with a $2–4 million estimate, supporting bids in U.S. dollars, cryptocurrencies
  • Researchers warn that private ownership of rare specimens could restrict scientific study, risking limited public access to Martian materials