A rare 24.5-kilogram Martian meteorite, NWA 16788, discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2023, is heading to auction. This unique rock, with a reddish hue and glassy fusion crust, is expected to fetch millions of dollars.
The auction, scheduled for July 16, 2025, could make it the most valuable meteorite ever sold. Out of the approximately 77,000 recognized meteorites, only about 400 are confirmed to be from Mars.
The current record holder is the Fukang meteorite, a pallasite with olivine crystals, valued at around $2 million in 2008. The NWA 16788's potential value highlights the rarity and scientific significance of Martian meteorites.