Highest Mars fragment sold at auction for $5.3 million, overshadowed by young dinosaur spectacle
In a remarkable turn of events, two of the most significant finds in the realm of space and prehistoric life were sold at a recent auction held at Sotheby's in New York. The identities of the buyers, however, remain undisclosed.
The highlight of the space-related findings was a Mars meteorite, named NWA 16788, which fetched approximately $5.3 million, including fees. This meteorite is about 70% larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth and represents nearly 7% of all the Martian material currently on our planet. Its course-grained texture and the minerals pyroxene and olivine make it a rare find, with only 400 Martian meteorites out of the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites discovered on Earth.
The meteorite was blasted off the surface of Mars in recent years, as testing has confirmed. Its glassy surface, likely due to the high heat it endured when falling through Earth's atmosphere, is a testament to its cosmic journey. Interestingly, the meteorite's distinct chemical composition was compared with that of Martian meteorites discovered during the Viking space probe that landed on Mars in 1976.
In a surprising twist, the buyer of the Martian meteorite plans to loan the dinosaur skeleton discovered at the same auction to an institution. No public details have been revealed regarding any specific plans for the meteorite itself beyond the purchase.
The dinosaur skeleton, standing more than 6 feet tall and nearly 11 feet long, is believed to be from the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. It is one of only four known Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeletons and the only juvenile skeleton of the species. The dinosaur skeleton sold for more than $30 million at the same auction, making it the third-highest amount paid for a dinosaur at auction. The Stegosaurus skeleton called "Apex" holds the record after it was sold for $44.6 million last year at Sotheby's.
The identities of both the buyer of the Martian meteorite NWA 16788 and the buyer of the dinosaur skeleton have not been publicly disclosed following the auction. However, the buyer of the dinosaur skeleton also plans to loan it to an institution.
The Mars meteorite and the dinosaur skeleton, two extraordinary discoveries, now join the ranks of the most valuable and intriguing artefacts in the world, their futures shrouded in mystery as their new owners remain anonymous.
[1] Mars Meteorite NWA 16788 Fetches $5.3 Million at Auction, Sotheby's Announces [2] Buyer of Mars Meteorite to Loan Dinosaur Skeleton to Institution, Sotheby's Reveals [4] Dinosaur Skeleton Sells for More Than $30 Million at the Same Auction as the Mars Meteorite
Note: The dates and specific auction details have been omitted for brevity, but the original sources provide this information.
- The Mars meteorite NWA 16788, infamously known for fetching approximately $5.3 million at Sotheby's in New York, is nearly 7% of all Martian material currently on Earth, with only 400 other Martian meteorites discovered on Earth.
- Interested in environmental science and space-and-astronomy, the buyer of the Mars meteorite NWA 16788 plans to loan a dinosaur skeleton discovered at the same auction to an institution, although no specific details about the meteorite itself have been revealed.
- The buyer of the dinosaur skeleton, which sold for more than $30 million at the same Sotheby's auction, also plans to loan the skeleton to an institution, keeping the identities of both buyers undisclosed.
- The remarkable space- and prehistoric-life finds, consisting of a Mars meteorite and a dinosaur skeleton, have joined the ranks of the most valuable and intriguing artifacts in the world, with their purchases taking place in the general-news realm.
- The multi-million dollar collection of a lifestyle enhancer, including the Mars meteorite and dinosaur skeleton, now embraces technology, education-and-self-development, entertainment, finance, and sports, whilst keeping the attention of science enthusiasts worldwide.
