Huge piece of Mars sells at auction for $5.3 million
Mars Piece Sells At A/Bid For $5.3 MillionBy Drew Kornblum, CBS News reporter, titled "Mars Piece Sells At A/Bid For $5.3 Million." When he sat down with the Franklin Institute's director of astronomy and planetarium Derrick Pitts, he discussed his discovery of a massive piece of Martian rock that had been hidden for centuries.
The largest piece of Mars on Earth, numbered 16788, fetched $5.3 million at an auction led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Washington D.C. The piece was sold to Michael Riegl's Mars Pieces Foundation, which has been creating more such rare finds for further study.
Pitts explained that this discovery is part of a broader effort to find "Mars wonder stones," small rocks with hints of Earth-like characteristics, often called "mushrooms" or "balls." The piece was found in 2017 and later sold at the auction. It was auctioned off on March 29 and closed within two days.
The item fetched $5.3 million when it went up to $6 million before dropping to $4.3 million as it closed. Pitts said the value reflects its rarity, size, and the effort that led to its discovery.
This finding has sparked interest in studying other Mars wonder stones from different locations around the solar system. The discovery of 16788 is a significant milestone in understanding how Martian rocks form and evolve over time.
The piece serves as a reminder of humanity's pursuit of knowledge about our planet and its history. By uncovering such treasures, scientists can learn more about the early atmosphere and origins of Mars, setting new avenues for future exploration.
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