New York, July 13 – A piece of the Red Planet is about to find a new home on Earth, and it might just cost millions. A rare and astonishingly large Martian meteorite, believed to be the biggest ever discovered on our planet, is set to go up for auction this week in New York. The rock, named NWA 16788, weighs in at a hefty 54 pounds (25 kilograms) and is expected to fetch anywhere between $2 million and $4 million.
The extraordinary specimen is a centerpiece of a natural history-themed auction hosted by Sotheby’s. Alongside it, another jaw-dropping exhibit will be available for bidding—a juvenile skeleton of the Ceratosaurus dinosaur, dating back approximately 150 million years to the Jurassic period.
NWA 16788 isn’t just another space rock. This Martian meteorite is estimated to be around 70% larger than any previously known fragment from Mars. With dimensions measuring roughly 15 by 11 by 6 inches (375 x 279 x 152 millimeters), this single piece accounts for nearly 7% of all Martian-origin material found on Earth to date. The rock’s rarity and size alone make it an extraordinary find, but the journey it took to get here adds another layer of fascination.
According to the auction house, the meteorite was forcefully dislodged from Mars following a massive asteroid impact.. After making a journey of roughly 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) through space, it eventually landed in the Sahara Desert. The rare rock was discovered in Niger in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter, according to Sotheby’s.
Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman for science and natural history at Sotheby’s, described the find as “a monumental discovery.” According to her, “This Martian meteorite is more than double the size of what was previously considered the largest known specimen from Mars. It completely reshapes our understanding of how much Martian material could be present on Earth.”
A small fragment of the meteorite was extracted and analyzed in a specialized laboratory to confirm its Martian origin. The team compared its chemical signature with data obtained from Martian samples collected during NASA’s Viking mission, which landed on Mars in 1976. The analysis revealed the rock to be an “olivine-microgabbroic shergottite,” a rare type of igneous rock formed from the slow cooling of magma on Mars. This particular classification is known for its coarse-grained texture and the presence of minerals like pyroxene and olivine.
In addition to its unique mineral makeup, the meteorite features a natural, glassy outer layer—evidence of the intense heat it endured during its fiery entry through Earth’s atmosphere. “That glossy sheen was the first clue that this wasn’t just an ordinary boulder,” Hatton explained.
Before arriving at the auction block, the meteorite was part of a scientific exhibit at the Italian Space Agency in Rome. While Sotheby’s has not disclosed the current owner, the rock’s rarity and significance are expected to drive considerable interest among collectors, researchers, and institutions worldwide.
The exact date of its impact on Earth remains uncertain, though recent testing suggests the event occurred in recent years, making it a relatively new arrival from space.
Alongside this celestial marvel, bidders will also have a chance to own a piece of Earth’s ancient past in the form of a juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeleton. Standing over 6 feet tall and nearly 11 feet in length, the dinosaur fossil was unearthed in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, at the famed Bone Cabin Quarry—a location long recognized for its rich deposits of dinosaur bones.
The fossil was meticulously assembled using approximately 140 authentic bones, complemented by sculpted elements to complete the skeleton. Fossilogic, a Utah-based firm renowned for its fossil restoration work, prepared the dinosaur skeleton for display. Experts in the field describe Ceratosaurus as a Late Jurassic predator, notable for walking on two legs, having reduced forelimbs, and bearing a unique horn on the front of its skull. While smaller than its more famous relative, the Tyrannosaurus rex, the Ceratosaurus could still reach lengths of up to 25 feet.
This rare fossil is estimated to sell for between $4 million and $6 million, making it one of the most significant dinosaur specimens to be publicly auctioned in recent years.
Both the meteorite and the dinosaur skeleton are highlights of what Sotheby’s is branding as “Geek Week 2025.” The themed auction will feature 122 unique items, ranging from ancient fossils and meteorites to mineral specimens of gem-quality beauty. It is a celebration of natural history, science, and the enduring human fascination with both the mysteries of the universe and the wonders buried beneath our feet.