Martian, meteorite
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This meteorite, affectionately dubbed NWA 16788, isn’t just any space rock, though. At a stunning $5.3 million, not only did it fetch the highest price of any meteorite ever, it’s also the largest, most scientifically significant piece of Mars that we Earthlings have access to.
The largest piece of Mars on Earth is now the most valuable meteorite ever sold at auction after it achieved $5.3 million in the Natural History sale during Sotheby's Geek Week. #AuctionUpdate The auction continues LIVE from #SothebysNewYork: https://t.co/VFFgQ4UVDB pic.twitter.com/qVVgJDpcau
A 54-pound Martian rock, known as NWA 16788, fetched a record $5.3 million at Sotheby’s, becoming the most expensive meteorite ever sold at auction.
Out of the 122 lots, the main event is NWA 16788, a Martian meteorite that is the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth.
Very few meteorites from this planet ever reach Earth and none have been scientifically proven. A study investigated two stones linked to Mercury.