Mysterious metal ball from space falls in Namibia
This large metal ball was found in Namibian grasslands in November.
December 22nd, 2011
09:53 PM ET

Mysterious metal ball from space falls in Namibia

A large metal ball that fell from space into the Namibian grasslands last month is not alien, officials say, but that's about all they know for certain about the object.

According to a report on The Namibian website, the 13-pound metal sphere with two bumps on its poles was found by a farmer near Onamatunga in the Omunsati region between November 15 and November 20. Explosions were heard in the area before the discovery, but no evidence of an explosion was seen around the area where the object was found.

Paul Ludik, director of the country's National Forensic Science Institute, told The Namibian the sphere, with a circumference of 3.6 feet, is made of a "sophisticated" metal alloy that is known to man, but he said it has no markings that would identify it. No international space agency has claimed ownership, he said.

“A number of tests have been performed on the object, and it appears to be hollow. We are still busy with a detailed examination of the object,” The Namibian quotes him as saying.

Ludik told The Namibian that the object poses no cause for alarm, and that such reports of metallic spheres falling from space are common in the Southern Hemisphere.

So should we expect a run on helmets at sporting goods stores south of the equator?

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Filed under: Namibia • Space
soundoff (970 Responses)
  1. Aaron

    there is one problem with all the people thinking this is from that russian salyut, that ball is only 14 inches in diameter, this one is 3.6 feet....thats quite a big difference

    December 23, 2011 at 4:13 am | Report abuse |
    • Jethro

      This ball is 3.6 ft. is CIRC-UMFERENCE. That figures out to 13.75 in diameter, if my cyphering is correct.

      December 23, 2011 at 5:08 am | Report abuse |
  2. rooney

    Namibia, isn't that where Angelina Jolie delivered her and Brad Pitt's first baby? I know, that has nothing to do with the article.

    December 23, 2011 at 4:23 am | Report abuse |
  3. ***Dude***

    @vahjayjayaddict: 494 posts, yours is the best! 🙂

    December 23, 2011 at 4:24 am | Report abuse |
  4. CJ

    LOL! Humans are stupid.

    December 23, 2011 at 4:25 am | Report abuse |
    • JUGGERNAUT

      well you are insulting yourself, unless if you are an android. 🙂

      December 23, 2011 at 5:30 am | Report abuse |
  5. andrew e

    Gyro.

    December 23, 2011 at 4:45 am | Report abuse |
  6. CJ

    It is about the size of a basketball.

    December 23, 2011 at 4:46 am | Report abuse |
  7. Big Ron

    It's pretty obvious to me that this metal ball was from a satellite of some sort.Let's not make it out to be more then it is.

    December 23, 2011 at 4:47 am | Report abuse |
  8. CJ

    It is a fishing net float that was snagged on the legs of a floatation plane. Next story.

    December 23, 2011 at 4:53 am | Report abuse |
  9. Sam Smith

    Many countries fill military exercise pods with balls like this. They are used to balance the load in training pods that are dropped (like real bombs) so that new pilots can practice.

    December 23, 2011 at 4:59 am | Report abuse |
  10. Charlie

    see
    http://fernlea.tripod.com/tank.html

    December 23, 2011 at 5:05 am | Report abuse |
  11. blue voodoo

    Looks like the original Sputnik !

    December 23, 2011 at 5:12 am | Report abuse |
  12. Icloner

    If this is from a satellite than the looks of it tells us how behind we are in technology , this would had been more acceptable if it was Alien , THIS LOOKS SO 1800 s

    December 23, 2011 at 5:18 am | Report abuse |
  13. justmeanddog

    I have been wondering where I lost that flux capacitor.

    December 23, 2011 at 5:20 am | Report abuse |
  14. Icloner

    Imagine if this thing had fallen in a city like New York during rush hour .

    December 23, 2011 at 5:20 am | Report abuse |
  15. Jim

    Look, up in the sky..... Its a..... Sphere....

    December 23, 2011 at 5:30 am | Report abuse |
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