A rare Martian meteorite, known as NWA 16788, was sold for $5.3 million at a Sotheby's auction. Discovered in the Sahara Desert in Niger in 2023, the reddish-brown meteorite is one of only 400 confirmed Martian meteorites among over 77,000 recognized meteorites. These meteorites originate from Mars when asteroid impacts eject surface material into space, which then travels millions of miles to Earth. The rarity and unique origin of NWA 16788 contributed to its high value.