Summary
A large piece of Martian rock, weighing 54 pounds, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby's in New York. Experts estimate its value between $2 million and $4 million because it is the biggest piece of Mars found on Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara and confirmed to be from Mars after laboratory testing.
Key Facts
- A 54-pound meteorite from Mars will be auctioned at Sotheby's in New York.
- The rock is valued at $2 million to $4 million.
- It is the largest Martian meteorite found on Earth, making up nearly 7% of all Martian material on the planet.
- The meteorite was found in Niger in November 2023.
- It traveled to Earth after being dislodged from Mars by an asteroid strike.
- The meteorite is termed an "olivine-microgabbroic shergottite," a type of Martian rock identified through its chemical composition.
- It has a glassy surface from its high-speed entry through Earth's atmosphere.
- The Sotheby's auction, called Geek Week, includes other rare items like a dinosaur skeleton.
