All articles tagged with #martian meteorite
A Maine museum lost its claim to the largest Martian meteorite on Earth after a larger one was found in Niger and auctioned for $5.3 million. The museum's collection, once home to the largest Martian meteorite, now ranks second, but it still holds the world's largest collection of lunar meteorites. The story highlights the rarity and scientific value of Martian rocks, as well as the complex world of meteorite trading.
The largest Martian meteorite ever found on Earth, NWA 16788, weighing 54 pounds, is expected to sell for up to $4 million at Sotheby’s auction, highlighting its rarity and significance for planetary science.
The use of hand magnets by meteorite hunters to verify the authenticity of meteorites is destroying valuable magnetic information stored within them. The process wipes the pre-existing magnetic field and replaces it with the magnet's own field, making it impossible to study the original magnetism of the meteorite. This poses a problem for scientists hoping to learn about the magnetic field that once shielded the Martian atmosphere. The study suggests that meteorite hunters should skip the magnet test and explore alternative methods to verify meteorites' authenticity.