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The meteorite, which is the largest known piece of Mars on Earth, is expected to get up to $ 4 million when it will be auction later this month.
Known as NWA 16788, a meteorite weighs £ 54 (24.5 kilograms), a huge compared to many Martian meteorites, which are usually small fragments, Sotheby’s announced on Tuesday.
Meteorites are what is left when a comet, asteroid or meteoroid survive its passage through the Earth’s atmosphere.
Close view to the surface of the meteorite – Sotheby’s
Found in 2023. November In Niger’s remote region of Agadez, the NWA 16788 is a “monumental specimens”, which is approximately 70% larger than the other largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth, Sotheby’s reports.
It is also incredibly rare: only about 400 Mars meteorites have ever been found on Earth.
“The NWA 16788 is the discovery of extraordinary importance – the largest Martian meteorite ever found on Earth, and the most valuable auction of its kind,” said Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s, deputy chairman of science and natural history.
“Because of its space and time, the huge size and the undeniable red color distinguish it as once. This excellent meteorite gives a tangible connection with the red planet-our neighbor, who has long captured human imagination,” she added.
Analysis of the inner composition of the meteorite revealed that it was probably removed from the surface of Mars and blew into space asteroid stroke, which was so powerful that the meteorite parts turned into glass.
According to Sotheby’s, it can also be seen on its surface a glass crust formed because it appeared through the Earth’s atmosphere.
Meteorite July 16 Sotheby’s in New York will take place under the hammer.
For some, it is anxious that a meteorite is sold, not sacrificed to science.
“It would be a shame if he disappeared into the oligarch vault. It belongs to the museum where it can be explored and where children and families and a wide society can enjoy it,” said Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution on Wednesday.
However, Julia Cartwright, a planetary scientist and independent researcher at the University of Lester, England, Institute of Space/Physics and Astronomy, is a balance.
“After all, if the meteorite search, dialing and sales markets were not there, we wouldn’t have been near so many of our collections – and it encourages science!” She told CNN on Wednesday, describing the “symbiotic relationships” of investigators and collectors.
“If there were no examples, we wouldn’t have to learn anywhere, so we wouldn’t know as much as we,” Cartwright added.
Although she thinks it would be great if this “truly fabulous rock” was investigated or shown to see the public, Cartwright would emphasize that a reference example from a meteorite had been rescued at the Chinese Purple Mountain Observatory.
Although we do not know where the meteorite will end after the auction, Cartwright believes “scientific interest will remain and the new owner can be very interested in learning, so we can still collect a lot of science,” she said.
2021 February The Martian meteorite with the atmosphere of the planet, stuck in it, was under the hammer Christie at the auction house.
He sold for $ 200,000, much more than $ 30,000 to $ 50,000 before the auction.
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