(MENAFN) A massive Martian meteorite has sold for a record-breaking $5.3 million at a U.S. auction, Sotheby’s announced on Wednesday. Known as Northwest Africa 16788 (NWA 16788), the 24.67-kilogram rock is now the most expensive specimen of its kind ever sold.

The meteorite originated from the surface of Mars, ejected into space by an asteroid impact. It was discovered in Niger’s Sahara Desert in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter. Sotheby’s noted the stone is coated in a reddish-brown fusion crust, a result of its fiery descent through Earth’s atmosphere, with regmaglypts—indentations formed during re-entry—clearly visible.

At 70% larger than any other known Martian meteorite found on Earth, NWA 16788 stands out not only for its size but also for its rarity. Out of more than 77,000 recognized meteorites worldwide, only about 400 are confirmed to be of Martian origin.

Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice chairman of science and natural history, called the rock “a once-in-a-generation find,” highlighting its size, color, and extraordinary journey. “This remarkable meteorite provides a tangible connection to the red planet — our celestial neighbor that has long captured the human imagination,” she said.

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