nnAn exceptionally rare 54-pound meteorite from Mars, the largest ever discovered on Earth, sold for $4.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York. Designated NWA 16788, the 15-inch-long rock was found in Niger in November 2023 and is 70% larger than any previously known Martian meteorite. Sotheby’s described the reddish-brown specimen as scientifically significant due to its unprecedented size. Only about 400 verified Martian meteorites have ever been recovered on Earth. The sale highlights the growing market for rare space objects, with collectors willing to pay millions for these extraterrestrial artifacts.