A wooden and tin dog crate with a hole approximately 25.4mm in diameter, caused by a meteorite impact, was sold at auction for $44,100; the piece of meteorite measuring 8x4cm that struck the dog crate was sold for $21,420.
Roky the dog was unharmed when the meteorite fragment struck the crate. (Source: BBC)
The rare meteorite auction held by Christie’s Auction House on February 23 sold the wooden and tin dog crate, featuring a 7-inch (1 inch = 25.4mm) hole marking the point where the meteorite impacted the roof, for $44,100.
Meanwhile, the actual meteorite fragment measuring 8x4cm that hit the dog crate when it fell into the yard of Roky’s owner in Aguas Zarcas in April 2019 was sold for $21,420.
This is the third largest piece of Martian meteorite to fall to Earth; however, it was sold for a significantly lower price than the estimated range of $200,000 to $300,000.
Regarding other meteorites offered in this auction, a bidder paid $189,000 for a piece of Moon rock discovered in Morocco in 2007, which was below the pre-auction estimate of $300,000.
Another piece of Moon rock found in the Sahara Desert in Mauritania sold for $69,300 during the two-week online auction that concluded on February 23.
This auction was disappointing for Martian meteorites, as a 9.1kg piece of Martian rock was valued between $500,000 and $800,000 but failed to find a buyer.
