A 54-pound Martian meteorite — the largest known piece of Mars ever found on Earth — is now headed to auction at Sotheby’s. Designated NWA 16788, this monumental rock was discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2023 and is approximately 70% larger than any other verified fragment from the Red Planet. Its deep red hue, glassy crust, and immense scale offers rare insights into geological processes that shaped the Martian surface billions of years ago.
Blasted off Mars by a powerful asteroid impact and scorched during its descent through Earth’s atmosphere, NWA 16788 is a geological time capsule from another world. With fewer than 400 Martian meteorites ever recorded, and most no larger than a pebble, this specimen offers the biggest tangible connection to a planet that has captivated humanity for centuries.
NWA 16788 is more than a cosmic artifact — it’s a key to understanding Mars itself.
As a part of this year's Geek Week, The Largest Piece of Mars on Earth will be on free public view in our New York galleries from 8–15 July, before being offered live in Natural History, Including the Juvenile Ceratosaurus, and the Largest Piece of Mars on Earth on 16 July at 10:00 AM EST.
