A colossal Mars rock sold for $5.3 million in New York, overshadowed by a juvenile dinosaur skeleton fetching $30 million at the same auction. The world's largest piece of Mars on Earth didn't command the attention garnered by the unique Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeleton.

A massive fragment of Mars, the largest piece ever discovered on Earth, was auctioned off for over $5 million in New York. Yet, the celestial wonder took a backseat to a remarkable young dinosaur skeleton, which sparked intense bidding, ultimately selling for over $30 million.

Discovered in the Sahara Desert, the 25-kilogram Martian rock, named NWA 16788, journeyed 225 million kilometers to Earth after being dislodged from Mars by an asteroid impact. Sotheby’s had anticipated the rock to sell between $2 million and $4 million; however, the rock exceeded expectations, closing at $4.3 million before fees raised the total to approximately $5.3 million. Its buyer remains anonymous.

The auction, however, was dominated by a fierce six-minute scramble for the juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeleton, involving six bidders. Originally estimated to go for $4 million to $6 million, the skeleton's appeal skyrocketed amid offers escalating by millions, culminating in a triumphant final bid of $26 million. Applause filled the room as the auctioneer concluded the event.

With fees added, the dinosaur’s sale reached $30.5 million, making it one of the most expensive dinosaur fossils ever sold. Although the buyer remains undisclosed, they plan to loan this rare specimen to an institution. This sale was only surpassed by the $44.6 million transaction for a Stegosaurus skeleton named "Apex" last year.

This particular dinosaur relic, discovered in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, was meticulously assembled from nearly 140 fossils. These were skillfully reconstructed and mounted for exhibition display by Utah's Fossilogic. Standing over 2 meters tall and nearly 3 meters long, the Ceratosaurus dates back to the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago, and could grow up to 7.6 meters long.