Photo credit: Sotheby’s
A 54-pound chunk of Mars, dubbed NWA 16788, is stealing the show at Sotheby’s Geek Week auction, running online through July 16, 2025. This massive Martian meteorite, the biggest of its kind ever found on Earth, tells a wild tale that stretches across millions of years and 140 million miles. Discovered in Northwest Africa in 2023, it’s a cosmic relic from a violent past that has bids already hitting $1.92 million (including the buyer’s premium) and a top estimate of $4 million.
It all started with a colossal bang on Mars. An asteroid slammed into the Red Planet, blasting surface material into space with such force it turned some of the meteorite’s minerals into glass. That’s how NWA 16788 began its epic trip across the cosmos. “This is a piece of Mars that made it through an insane journey,” says Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s Global Head of Science and Popular Culture. “Its makeup shows it was ripped from the Martian surface, drifted through space, and somehow landed here.” Weighing in at 24.67 kilograms, it’s a giant compared to other Martian rocks, making its 2023 discovery a rare chance to hold a piece of another planet.
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Sotheby’s Geek Week, a yearly bash celebrating science and pop culture, is the perfect stage for NWA 16788. At the size of a hefty microwave, it dwarfs the tiny Martian fragments usually seen in collections. Most Martian meteorites are just ounces, yet still fetch big bucks for their rarity. NWA 16788? It’s a beast, and its near-perfect condition only amps up the hype. “The interest is off the charts,” Hatton says, noting the bidding frenzy. “With 12 days to go, we’ve already blown past the $2 million low estimate, and it’s only climbing.”
The science behind NWA 16788 is just as thrilling as its collector appeal. It’s packed with pyroxene and olivine, or the stuff you’d find in Mars’ volcanic crust. Those glassy bits, forged in the heat and chaos of that asteroid hit, give clues about Mars’ ancient environment. For collectors, though, it’s about the vibe—owning a chunk of Mars feels like holding a piece of the universe. “This isn’t just a rock,” says Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut and Sotheby’s consultant. “It’s a direct link to a planet we’re still chasing.”
The meteorite’s backstory adds even more intrigue. Found in Northwest Africa’s deserts, NWA 16788 was ID’d and confirmed as Martian through in-depth spectroscopic analysis. Its authenticity is rock-solid, backed by bulletproof scientific records. For collectors, that kind of provenance is gold—space artifacts like meteorites need ironclad proof they’re not just Earth rocks in disguise. The Interstellar Collection, experts in meteorite sales, puts it clear: “We can trace every stone from the moment it’s found to when it lands in your hands.” With NWA 16788, that guarantee makes it a no-brainer for serious buyers.
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