Latest news with #JuliaCartwright
NDTV
2 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
World's Largest Mars Rock Ever Found Could Sell For $4 Million At Sotheby's
A massive Martian meteorite, believed to be the largest ever discovered on Earth, is set to go under the hammer at a Sotheby's auction later this month. The rock, officially named NWA-16788, weighs an impressive 24.67 kilograms (54.39 pounds), making it approximately 70% larger than the previous record-holder, Taoudenni 002, which was found in Mali in 2021 and weighed 14.51 kg. The rare meteorite was discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter in the Agadez region of Niger, an area typically known for dinosaur fossils rather than space rocks. A sample of the meteorite was sent to the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, which confirmed its Martian origin. Experts now estimate that this one-of-a-kind specimen could sell for up to US$4 million, attracting interest from collectors and scientific institutions alike. The sale offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of Mars without leaving Earth. "NWA 16788 is covered in a reddish-brown fusion crust, giving it an unmistakable Martian hue. 'Regmaglypts', or surface depressions formed by frictional heating during rapid descent through Earth's atmosphere, are also visible on the surface of the meteorite,' the Sotheby's listing explains."NWA 16788 shows minimal terrestrial weathering, indicating that its physical and chemical makeup have not been significantly altered since its arrival in the Sahara Desert. In other words, NWA 16788 is likely a relative newcomer here on Earth, having fallen from outer space rather recently." The meteorite will go under the hammer at Sotheby's New York on July 16. For some, the fact that the meteorite is being sold rather than donated to science is cause for concern. "It would be a shame if it disappeared into the vault of an oligarch. It belongs in a museum, where it can be studied, and where it can be enjoyed by children and families and the public at large," Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at Scotland's University of Edinburgh, told CNN on Wednesday. But for Julia Cartwright, a planetary scientist and Independent Research Fellow in the Institute for Space/School of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Leicester, England, there is a balance to be struck. "Ultimately, if there was no market for searching, collecting and selling meteorites, we would not have anywhere near as many in our collections - and this drives the science!" she told CNN on Wednesday, describing a "symbiotic relationship" between researchers and collectors.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Handbag-sized rock found on floor is actually worth £2.9 MILLION after experts say it's biggest chunk of Mars ever found
THE largest chunk of Mars ever found on Earth could sell for up to £2.9million ($4million) in a Sotheby's auction later this month. Believed to have crashed here as a meteorite, the Martian rock weighs in at 24.67 kilograms (54.39 pounds). Advertisement 4 Officially named NWA-16788, the specimen was discovered by a meteorite hunter in November 2023 Credit: Sotheby's 4 The Shanghai Astronomy Museum has confirmed the rock's Martian identity based on a small sample sent there Credit: Sotheby's That's about 70 per cent larger than the previous record-holder - the 14.51kg Taoudenni 002 meteorite found in Mali back in 2021. Of the more than 77,000 officially recognised meteorites on Earth, fewer than 400 originate from Mars. That makes the rock a particularly rare find. Officially named NWA-16788, the specimen was discovered by a meteorite hunter in November 2023. Advertisement READ MORE ON MARS Somewhere in the sparsely populated Agadez region of Niger, an area better known for its dinosaur fossils than its meteorites , the unnamed explorer found the lump of rock. The Shanghai Astronomy Museum has confirmed the rock's Martian identity based on a small sample sent there. The meteorite "shows minimal terrestrial weathering, indicating that its physical and chemical makeup have not been significantly altered since its arrival in the Sahara Desert," Sotheby's said in its "In other words, NWA-16788 is likely a relative newcomer here on Earth, having fallen from outer space rather recently." Advertisement Most read in Tech Meteorites - a space rock that fails to burn up on entry through Earth's atmosphere - frequently fall to Earth. Although must are small and land unnoticed, often in the oceans. Mars Rock Samples- The Stories They Could Tell Scientists at Nasa It's thought the rock started its journey to our blue dot when an asteroid crashed into Mars and sent debris flying into space. However, some scientists question whether such a rare specimen should be up for sale. Advertisement "It would be a shame if it disappeared into the vault of an oligarch," paleontologist Steve Brusatte from the University of Edinburgh . "It belongs in a museum, where it can be studied, and where it can be enjoyed by children and families and the public at large." Planetary scientist Julia Cartwright, from the University of Leicester told CNN she hoped that the rock may still be used for science anyway. "The scientific interest will remain," she said. Advertisement "The new owner may be very interested in learning from it, so we may still gather lots of science from this." Prior to landing at Sotheby's, the meteorite was show off to the public at an exhibition at the Italian Space Agency in Rome in 2024, and in a private gallery in Arezzo, Tuscany. The will begin on 16 July at 14:00 UTC. 4 It's thought the rock started its journey to our blue dot when an asteroid crashed into Mars and sent debris flying into space Credit: Sotheby's Advertisement 4 Mars is pockmarked with asteroid impact craters Credit: Alamy Mars facts Here's what you need to know about the red planet... Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun It is named after the Roman god of war The landmass of Mars is very similar to Earth but due to the difference in gravity you could jump three times higher there than you can here Mars is mountainous and hosts the tallest mountain known in the Solar System called Olympus Mons, which is three times higher than Everest Mars is considered to be the second most habitable planet after Earth It takes the planet 687 Earth days to orbit the Sun The planet has a diameter of 4,212 miles, and has an average distance from Earth of 140 million miles Martian temperatures can vary wildly, reaching as high as 70F/20C or as low as -225F/-153C
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Largest Mars rock could sell for a staggering $4 million
A rare and massive meteorite from Mars , known as NWA 16788, is poised to make headlines as it heads to auction with an estimated price of up to $4 million. Weighing 54 pounds (24.5 kilograms), it is the largest known piece of the Red Planet ever discovered on Earth, making it 70% larger than any previously found Martian meteorite. First unearthed in Niger's remote Agadez region in November 2023, this extraordinary specimen is not only scientifically significant but also visually striking, with a glassy crust and deep red hues that reflect its Martian origin. Martian Rock: A once-in-a-generation discovery According to Sotheby's, the auction house hosting the sale on July 16 in New York, NWA 16788 is among just 400 confirmed Martian meteorites ever found. Its immense size and exceptional condition set it apart from the usual small fragments that survive Earth's atmosphere. Cassandra Hatton, Vice Chairman of Science and Natural History at Sotheby's, described it as 'a discovery of extraordinary significance... a tangible connection to the Red Planet.' The meteorite likely arrived on Earth after a powerful asteroid impact blasted it from Mars millions of years ago. Scientific insights encased in glass Analysis reveals that parts of NWA 16788 were turned to glass during its ejection from Mars and again during its fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere. Planetary scientist Julia Cartwright of the University of Leicester called it a 'fabulous rock,' noting that a reference sample is secured at China's Purple Mountain Observatory, ensuring future scientific study. She emphasized the balance between private collecting and academic access: 'Without the market, we wouldn't have nearly as many samples to study.' Public or private? Experts weigh in While some scientists, like Professor Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh, express concern that the rock might vanish into a private vault, others recognize the role collectors play. 'It would be a shame if it disappeared from public view,' said Brusatte. Cartwright, however, remains optimistic, suggesting the new owner could still collaborate with researchers. The meteorite's fate may remain unknown after the auction, but its legacy in planetary science is already secured.
India Today
2 days ago
- Science
- India Today
This piece of rock could sell for $4 million. It came from Mars
This could be one of the biggest auctions of extraterrestrial artefacts, a piece of rock that came from another planet - largest Martian meteorite ever discovered on Earth is set to break records at Sotheby's New York later this month, with an estimated value of up to US$4 named NWA 16788, this extraordinary specimen weighs 24.67 kilograms, making it about 70 per cent larger than the previous record-holding Martian meteorite, Taoudenni 002, found in Mali in NWA 16788 was unearthed in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter in the remote Agadez region of Niger, a location better known for dinosaur fossils than interplanetary about 400 Martian meteorites have ever been identified among the 77,000 recognised meteorites on Earth, underscoring the rarity and significance of this find. It is believed to be the largest individual Martian rock recovered so far. (Photo: Sotheby's) Scientific analysis confirmed the meteorite's Martian origin. The Shanghai Astronomy Museum verified its identity from a small sample, noting its minimal terrestrial weathering, a sign that it landed on Earth relatively recently and has not been significantly altered by our planet's surface displays the characteristic reddish-brown hue of Mars, and about 20 percent of the rock is composed of maskelynite, a glass formed by the intense shock of the asteroid impact that blasted it off the Martian believe NWA 16788 was formed from the slow cooling of Martian magma and is primarily made up of pyroxene, maskelynite, and DID IT COME TO EARTH?Its journey to Earth began with a colossal asteroid impact on Mars, which ejected the rock into space. After travelling approximately 140 million miles, it eventually landed in the Sahara upcoming auction, scheduled for July 16, has sparked debate in the scientific community. Some, like palaeontologist Steve Brusatte, argue such a rare specimen should remain in a museum for public study and including planetary scientist Julia Cartwright, suggest that significant scientific research can still be conducted, even if the meteorite enters a private of its final destination, NWA 16788 stands as a 'once-in-a-generation find, a tangible link to our neighbouring planet- Ends
