The 25-kilogram Martian meteorite NWA 16788 will be sold at auction. The preliminary estimate is from 2 to 4 million USD, RBC reports.
The meteorite was discovered in the Sahara Desert in November 2023. It was formed as a result of an asteroid impact on the surface of Mars and traveled a distance of 225 million kilometers to Earth.
Meteorites of Martian origin are rare finds. According to experts, less than 300 confirmed samples of such meteorites have been found on Earth. They are of interest to scientific research because they contain information about the geological history of Mars.
The exact date of the auction has not yet been announced. The final price of the meteorite will be determined during the bidding.
