A piece of rock believed to be the largest piece of Mars on Earth has sold for $5.3 million at a geological and archaeological auction in New York on Wednesday.
The Martian meteorite, which represents nearly 7% of all Martian material on Earth is called NWA 16788 and weighs 25 kilograms. It is also 70% larger than the second-largest Martian fragment found on Earth.
While the final bid for the meteorite was $4.3 million, the total price, including fees, reached $5.3 million, the auction house Sotheby’s said, adding that the buyer’s identity was not immediately disclosed.
Described by the auction house as an “unbelievably rare” reddish-brown rock, the meteorite is one of only about 400 Martian meteorites ever discovered on Earth.
According to Sotheby's it was ejected from the martian surface by a massive asteroid strike and then journeyed some 225 million kilometres (140 million miles) through space towards Earth's atmosphere. It then crashed in the Sahara desert.
It was then discovered in Niger’s remote Agadez Region in November 2023 by a meterorite hunter.
Information from the sale remains private so it's unclear where the rock will end up next.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit....
Eight Kenyan schoolgirls have pleaded not guilty to murder charges over a dormitory fire that killed 16 fellow students and injured dozens more at a b...
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both...
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Wit...
Trump travelled to North Dakota on Wednesday to dedicate the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, using the occasion to promote a message of A...
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met in Doha with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
Trump travelled to North Dakota on Wednesday to dedicate the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, using the occasion to promote a message of American greatness as Independence Day celebrations got under way ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.
Estonia is planning to allow citizens of other NATO member states to volunteer for wartime defence roles under proposed legislation, according to reports by public broadcaster ERR News.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
The U.S. and Iran have agreed to 'stand down' and resume technical talks, allowing vessels allowed to move freely under the interim peace deal, a U.S. official said.
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met in Doha with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
Britain said on Tuesday (30 June) it could intervene in Paramount Skydance Corp’s proposed $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, potentially delaying one of the largest media mergers in recent years despite approvals from the United States, China and several other major markets.
Science does not usually have much to do with K-pop. But a postgraduate student in southern China has found a way to bring the two together, and the result is now permanently written into the scientific record.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
Manhattan prosecutors have moved to drop a third-degree rape charge against movie producer Harvey Weinstein after his accuser said she no longer wished to testify. The decision ended what could have been a fourth New York trial in the long-running sexual assault case.
Villagers took part in Dragon Boat Festival celebrations on 24 June in Foshan, Guangdong province, where traditional racing was held on the narrow, winding Diejiao River.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment