[meteorite-list] New Kenya meteorite

From: e-mail ensoramanda <ensoramanda_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 20:04:43 +0100
Message-ID: <CABgfxnBEBLD=jocrVvdx_df6hYHZUoWps0DygVbBgjHc7m2qLQ_at_mail.gmail.com>

Another attempt at posting this to the list!!!

More here....Interesting hearing them report about the Carancas
"poisonings" at the end of the video I last posted!

and in this they suggest the meteorite was spinning when it landed?


http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Meteor+crashes+at+Kilimambogo/-/1056/1202250/-/13ulmhtz/-/

Posted Saturday, July 16 2011 at 17:34


An unknown mass believed to be from outer space on Saturday fell near
Kilimambogo and Tala towns.

Initially, there were reports of an explosion in Kangundo, Tala, Yatta
and Kakuzi before an extra-terrestrial rock fell at around 10 am.

Area residents say the loud sound was comparable to a bomb explosion
or a crashing aircraft while others felt it was an earthquake.

Police and military officers from Thika rushed to the scene at
Kiumwiri village, Murang?a county. The military later took away the
object for expert analysis.

The black smooth rock weighing about five kilos fell at a maize
plantation, 60 meters from a nearby homestead, but no one was harmed.

Lt Col J.N. Vungo, the commanding officer of the 12th Engineers
Battalion, said initial assessment indicate that the object was not
manmade and was believed to have come from outer space.

?We got conflicting reports from Kilimambogo area indicating that an
aircraft had crashed or a bomb had exploded in the area and jointly
with the police we mobilised our officers to find out what was
happening,? he said.

On locating the scene, security personnel sealed off the area, which
was attracting curious residents.

?We believe it is a heavenly body, probably a piece of a meteor that
may have disintegrated on entering the earth?s atmosphere,? said Lt
Col Vungo, who was accompanied by Thika police boss Paul Leting.

Mr Vungo said reports from Ndunyu Sabuk area indicated that a bigger
object was seen in the skies before it disintegrated after a loud
blast.

The official said according to witnesses, the object raised a cloud of
dust on hitting the ground, was extremely hot and was spinning on
impact.

?Meteors often lose stability and fly away from their orbit, but they
burn out on entering the atmosphere due to friction, Lt Col Vungo
said.

However, he added that it was a rare occurrence in the East African region.

An eye witness Ms Jane Wangui Kibugi said she was only 50 meters away
when the object fell.

?I saw a cloud of dust and when I went closer I found the black smooth
stone, which had dug a hole on the ground,? she said.



Great to have another new fall to ponder.

Graham
Received on Sun 17 Jul 2011 03:04:43 PM PDT