Sotheby’s is preparing to stage an extraordinary event at its upcoming Natural History auction during Geek Week 2025: the sale of the largest Martian meteorite ever recovered on Earth. Designated NWA 16788, this imposing space rock tips the scales at approximately 54 pounds (24.67 kg) and measures around 15 × 11 × 6 inches. Discovered in November 2023 in the remote Agadez region of Niger’s Sahara Desert, it stands at least 70% larger than the previous record‑holder among Martian specimens.
Scientists believe NWA 16788 originated from Mars, thanks to a powerful asteroid impact that launched fragments from the planet’s surface into space. It traveled roughly 140 million miles before crashing into the Sahara, where a meteorite hunter unearthed it. Its classification as an olivine‑microgabbroic shergottite—a type of Martian magma—was confirmed by high‑precision chemical analysis, comparing its composition with data from NASA’s Viking Mars probes in the 1970s. The meteorite’s exterior bears a glassy fusion crust from its fiery descent through Earth’s atmosphere and shows minimal signs of terrestrial weathering, suggesting its arrival was relatively recent in geological terms.
As one of fewer than 400 officially recognized Martian meteorites among over 77,000 documented meteorite finds worldwide, NWA 16788 accounts for nearly 7% of all Martian material on Earth. Sotheby’s Vice Chairman for Science and Natural History, Cassandra Hatton, described it as “a once‑in‑a‑generation find,” emphasizing its scientific and aesthetic significance.
The meteorite is expected to fetch between $2 million and $4 million when it goes under the hammer at Sotheby’s New York gallery on July 16, 2025. Bidding is already underway online, with opening offers reportedly reaching $1.6 million. The piece will be publicly exhibited from July 8 to 15, allowing collectors, researchers, and the public to view this rare relic before the auction.
The sale is not without controversy. Some scientists worry that such scientifically important specimens may disappear into private collections, depriving researchers and the public of access. Paleontologist Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh cautioned: “It would be a shame if it disappeared into the vault of an oligarch… it belongs in a museum,” echoing concerns that prioritize collective benefit over private ownership. Conversely, planetary scientist Julia Cartwright from the University of Leicester argues that private collectors play an essential role: “Without the market, we wouldn’t have nearly as many samples to study … this drives the science!”.
NWA 16788’s journey—from Martian volcano to Sahara sands to Sotheby’s auction block—underscores the delicate balance between scientific discovery, public education, and private enterprise. Its sale highlights the growing market for natural history artifacts, including meteorites, fossils, and minerals, a sector increasingly buoyed by both collectors and institutions.
In addition to NWA 16788, Sotheby’s Geek Week auction will feature more than 120 items, including a nearly complete juvenile Ceratosaurus dinosaur skeleton from the Jurassic period. That skeleton is also expected to command bids in the multimillion‑dollar range. Each offering is a testament to the enduring human fascination with our solar system’s past and the interconnected narratives of planetary and planetary and terrestrial life.
As the bidding on NWA 16788 approaches its conclusion, the world watches with anticipation. Whether it lands in a private collection or becomes part of a public institution, this record‑breaking chunk of Mars invites profound reflection on humanity’s quest to understand—and possess—the cosmos.
