(MENAFN) A massive meteorite originating from Mars has been sold for $5.3 million during a recent auction in New York, according to reports. Weighing 25 kilograms (about 54 pounds), the space rock—officially named NWA 16788—was discovered in the Sahara Desert region of Niger in November 2023.

Experts believe the meteorite was launched from the Martian surface following a powerful asteroid collision, then traveled roughly 225 million kilometers before landing on Earth. Meteorites are fragments of celestial bodies such as asteroids, comets, or meteoroids that manage to pass through Earth’s atmosphere and reach the ground.

While bidding for the rock concluded at $4.3 million, the total cost—including various fees—rose to $5.3 million. The buyer has chosen to remain anonymous, according to sources familiar with the sale.

Described as an “unbelievably rare” specimen with a reddish-brown hue, this Martian meteorite stands out among its kind. Only about 400 meteorites from Mars have been documented on Earth, making this find especially significant. In fact, it surpasses the second-largest known Martian meteorite by 70% in size and makes up nearly 7% of all Martian material currently known to exist on our planet.

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