Oukaimeden Observatory records dazzling meteor streaking across Marrakech and Ouarzazate

The Oukaimeden Astronomical Observatory confirmed that a dazzling meteor illuminated the night sky over Morocco’s Al Haouz region on Tuesday evening. 

The celestial event, which occurred around 8:40 PM, was also widely observed and shared on social media by local residents.

Eyewitnesses reported a loud boom accompanying the meteor’s passage and described its striking green color. 

While numerous videos of the phenomenon circulated online, their authenticity remains unverified.

Zuhair Benkhaldoun, director of the Oukaimeden Observatory, clarified that the object was indeed a meteor, not a meteorite. The observatory’s equipment captured the bright meteor as it streaked across the sky from Marrakech towards Ouarzazate.

The meteor’s origin and composition are still under investigation, as the observatory has yet to locate its landing site. An image taken by the observatory shows a vibrant green light trail left by the meteor.

This latest celestial spectacle follows a similar event in November of last year, when the observatory’s network of cameras captured a meteor shower. Scientists are currently analyzing the data to determine the source of these meteors.