Rock from Mars sells in the US - 1st September 2025

This is a piece of rock from Mars. It's a meteorite. And it just sold in New York for $5.3 million.

Meteorites are usually small but this one, NWA 16788, is very big. It weighs 24.5 kilograms.

Meteorites can fall anywhere on Earth. But people sometimes find them in the Sahara. There aren't many people there. And the hot weather keeps them safe too.

NWA 16788 landed in Agadez, in Niger. Somebody found it and sold it to an Italian gallery. This is when the problems started. The meteorite fell in Niger. So now, the Nigerien government is asking questions about the sale.

Most meteorites sell to private collectors. They don't go to scientists or to museums.

This meteorite first travelled to Italy. There, scientists took off two thin pieces. Then the rock went to New York. The names of the buyer and seller are secret. They say all the documents are fine. But some experts aren't so sure.