Sotheby’s in New York is hosting a remarkable auction as part of their Geek Week 2025, featuring an extraordinary array of natural history items. Among the highlights is NWA 16788, the largest Martian meteorite ever discovered on Earth. This 54-pound meteorite, estimated to fetch between $2 million and $4 million, is a significant find, being 70% larger than any other known Martian rock. It was discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2023 by a meteorite hunter and has since been confirmed as a Martian fragment through detailed laboratory analysis.
The auction also includes a juvenile Ceratosaurus dinosaur skeleton from the Late Jurassic period, estimated to be worth $4 million to $6 million. This specimen was unearthed in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, and has been meticulously assembled from nearly 140 fossil bones. The Ceratosaurus, a bipedal dinosaur with similarities to the Tyrannosaurus rex, but smaller, is an impressive addition to the sale.
These two items are part of a broader collection of 122 lots, which includes other meteorites, fossils, and gem-quality minerals. The auction presents a unique opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to acquire pieces of natural history that offer a glimpse into both the distant past and the far reaches of our solar system.