Specimen Description

Ait Saoun is a witnessed fall meteorite that occurred on July 27, 2006, in Morocco. Witnesses reported seeing a brilliant fireball streak across the sky followed by sonic booms, after which multiple stones were recovered in the Ait Saoun region. Witnessed falls are exceptionally rare and scientifically valuable—representing less than 5% of all known meteorites—because they can be collected immediately after landing, ensuring minimal terrestrial weathering and contamination. The precise fall date and circumstances are documented, providing crucial context about the meteorite's trajectory and origin. This makes witnessed fall specimens like Ait Saoun significantly more desirable to collectors and researchers compared to finds of unknown age, as they represent pristine samples with a known history from the moment they entered Earth's atmosphere.