Background:

On August 6, 2024 at 9:41pm local time, multiple eyewitnesses from different regions of Morocco witnessed a green fireball streaking across the sky, and some reported hearing loud sonic booms. The fireball was reported to have travelled approximately from the WNW to ESE. The meteor was captured by an all-sky camera installed at the Oukaimeden Observatory in the High Atlas (Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech).

A local eyewitness stated, “When the meteorite appeared in the sky, I was in Tamegroute Village. My attention was caught by the meteorite that flashed twice. The first was so bright that it illuminated the whole village. Two seconds later, the light dimmed, then, after one of two seconds, another flashed. Five later, after seeing this light or this fireball at around 9:35 pm, we heard a loud boom, despite its the fact that we live around 100km far from the fall area.”

Another eyewitness report from Ismali, a gentlemen who lives in the village: “ I witnessed the meteorite fall with my own eyes around 9:45. I saw what looked like a huge fire coming towards the ground. People were so scared, as it reminded them of the last earthquake. It exploded four times. The fireball was yellow, mixed with other colors. When it fragmented, it just feels like someone is throwing little rocks at you. People did not know what it was. They leave from their houses, and didn’t come back until midnight or 2 am. Later, we knew it is a meteorite fall. In the morning, people came form different regions of Morocco to collect the rocks. We started asking them about it and learned more about its nature and price. We were shocked by the people visiting. We are far from any other village or city. When thousands of people came at the same, inhabitants of the village were afraid and stayed in their homes. The majority of people who came are disrespectful. They were just looking for money. Some climbed fences and destroyed trees looking for meteorites.”

According to authorities, approximately 30,000 people descended upon the area. Which included women and children. With scorching summer temperatures — in this arid and rocky desert region — soaring to 113° Fahrenheit/45° Celsius. The tiny village was instantaneously overflowed by people hoping to find a piece of treasure from space. The village unequipped to handle a surge in population. One local turned on his hose, allowing hunters to drink from his well which prevented dehydration and illness. Others attempted to sell food for astronomical prices, explicating people for food, but the locals didn’t allow it.

Many small fragments of a few grams were found, along with a few rarer, larger ones. The finders said there was a powder underneath the meteorites they recovered, from when they smashed into rocks. Which is similar to Winchecomb, a 2021 fall in England when a rock smashed into a driveway and turned into powder.

Many of the stone were oriented, flight changed by stabilizing during their fiery journey into our atmosphere. And many and contain white spots. Broken pieces show a grey interior and chondrules and metallic iron. Which is consistently with primitive chondrites.

Classification:

Videos:

References:

• • Meteoritical Bulletin Database: Ait Saoun
  • Big thank you to Space Chat for allowing us usage of photographs and accounts: Facebook