Coupled with a research center for the study of meteorites, the museum includes a collection of more than 100 meteorites, but also a dozen tektites, shatter-cones and impact breccias. The importance of these extraterrestrial objects in the history of our planet and that of humanity, their issues and questions in the scientific research are illustrated by documents and detailed explanations. 

 

Collectors, prospectors, students, teacher-researchers or simply curious learn more about these extraterrestrial rocks. The soul and linchpin of the Museum isProfessor Abderahmane Ibhi, renowned specialist in meteorites. 

 

Impact craters

 

Visitors also discover the consequences of the falls of these meteorites and in particular the Moroccan impact craters. Samples of the Imilchil-Agoudal meteorite are for example on display. With a diameter of 120 m and arrived on Earth at a speed of 100,000 km/h, 40,000 years ago, this celestial object completely broke up, leaving behind large impact craters. These are the first astroblemes discovered in Morocco, by researchers from Ibn Zohr University.These craters formed the lakes Tislit and Isli, in the High Atlas.

 

Selenite evenings

 

Eager to add specimens to the Ibn Zohr collection, museum officials offer the possibility to anyone with a meteorite fragment to exhibit it at the museum. Either under an assumed name or under the name of the true owner.

 

Selenite evenings are also regularly on the museum's programme. Objective: observe the sky of Agadir, using astronomical instruments, but also meteorite impact craters on the lunar surface.

 

Joint efforts

 

The construction of the Agadir Meteorite Museum is the result of the joint efforts of Ibn Zohr University, the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research, the Ibn Zohr Astronomy Club and the Laboratory of Petrology Metallogeny and Meteorites. It is managed by the Ibn Zohr Astronomy Club, chaired by Professor Abderahmane Ibhi.

 

A collection of meteorites is also presented in Marrakech. Created by an amateur, it does not, however, have scientific backing.

 

Morocco, conducive to meteorite falls

 

Meteorite falls on Moroccan soil are frequent. The best known is that ofTissint, intervened in southern Morocco during the summer of 2011. This meteorite has been identified as coming from the planet Mars. In 2014, it was Tighert, a meteorite from the asteroid Vesta, which entered the pantheon of Moroccan meteorites.

 

Meteorites are also a significant source of income for the inhabitants of remote regions such as Tata, Erfoud, Zagora, Es-Smara, Zag. It's the fortune that fell from the sky, a lucrative trade. But beware of counterfeits and scammers!

 

Open to the public and to educational and scientific groups (we recommend taking Boulevard du 11-Janvier so as not to miss this place which is not easy to find): every day from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 3 p.m. Closed on public holidays.

 

Admission price: 10 dirhams (1 euro)

 

Museum phone number: +212 667 340 427