One of world’s largest Mars meteorites on first public display

The Martian meteorite set to go on public display at Expo 2025 Osaka is seen in its extensive packaging as it is loaded onto a truck in Tachikawa, Tokyo, on March 26, 2025

One of the world’s largest Mars meteorites departed the National Institute of Polar Research in Tachikawa, Tokyo, on March 26, bound for Osaka to be publicly exhibited for the first time at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, opening on April 13.

Measuring 29 centimeters in width, 16 cm in depth, 17.5 cm in height and weighing about 13 kilograms, the Martian rock was discovered by a Japanese research expedition in Antarctica in 2000.

Scientists estimate it broke off from Mars between 10 million to 13 million years ago and arrived on Earth tens of thousands of years ago.

The rock contains minerals formed through reactions with water, thus providing evidence that there was once liquid water on the red planet.

The Martian meteorite set to go on public display at Expo 2025 Osaka is seen in this photo provided by the National Institute of Polar Research.

On the day of departure, the Martian rock was packaged in multiple protective layers to avoid exposure to outside air, secured in a truck and transported from the research institute.

During the Expo, it will be kept in the Japan Pavilion in a humidity-controlled case sealed off from contact with external air.

Hiroyasu Kumagai, head of public relations at the institute, said, “This meteorite is of high scientific value. We hope many people will experience the mysteries of space and Earth.”