[meteorite-list] Fireball Sighted Over Oman

[Ron Baalke]

http://timesofoman.com/article/67344/Oman/Science-/Meteor-like-unidentified-object-enter-Oman-atmosphere

Meteor like unidentified object entered Oman atmosphere
by Tariq Al Haremi
Times of Oman
September 10, 2015
 
Muscat: Meteor like unidentified object did enter the Sultanate's atmosphere 
on Wednesday night, however it is not clear whether it landed in Oman 
or not, according to Saleh Al Shidhani from the Oman Astronomical Society, 
Locals in Wilayat of Yanqul in Al Dhahira Governorate reported that they 
witnessed Meteor like object and also heard the crash.

Speaking to Times of Oman, Saleh Al Shidhani from the Oman Astronomical 
Society, said, "Based on the information we have gathered currently, we 
can't confirm whether it was a meteorite or not."

"We are also not sure whether it landed in Sultanate, but it definitely 
passed through the atmosphere. But we don't know where it landed exactly," 
he further added, saying that the object passed through Al Dhahira Governorate 
and probably continued to the United Arab Emirates.

"The villagers had conflicting stories where some of them said they had 
heard the explosion when others denied it. We will send a team to that 
region and question the witnesses and investigate the matter,' said Al 
Shidhani.

Oman is a favorable destination for meteorite expeditions and collectors 
where the gravel plains in the Dhofar and Al Wusta regions of the Sultanate 
had yielded over 5,000 meteorites as of the middle of 2009 of both Lunar 
(Moon) and Martian (Mars) meteorites.

The Sultanate has proven to be extremely important for scientists as the 
land became a source for rare meteorites.

Some meteorites worth mentioning are Sayh Al Uhaymir 051 (SaU 51), Sayh 
Al Uhaymir 094 (SaU 94) and Dhofar 019, which are all Martian meteorites.

Over 22,000 meteorites have been discovered in the world where over 180 
of them are Omani consisting of both Lunar and Martian meteorites.

However, a law has passed deeming the collection of meteorite from the 
Sultanate a crime as it is considered a national treasure to the country.