Atmospheric entry and fragmentation of the small asteroid 2024 BX1: Bolide trajectory, orbit, dynamics, light curve, and spectrum

Vol. 686
10. Planets and planetary systems

Atmospheric entry and fragmentation of the small asteroid 2024 BX1: Bolide trajectory, orbit, dynamics, light curve, and spectrum

The asteroid 2024 BX1 collided with Earth on January 21, 2024, a few hours after its discovery. In this paper, the authors analyze the fireball associated with the atmospheric entry and fragmentation of this asteroid. They utilize data recorded by the European Fireball Network, particularly its Czech component, and the AllSky7 network. The majority of the data consist of optical, that is to say photographic, and video recordings, though the authors also utilized radiometric and spectral records to determine asteroid properties. Leveraging these datasets and employing a method developed by one of the authors, they successfully pinpointed the trajectory of the bolide and its fragments with a sufficient accuracy to permit the recovery of meteorites. Specifically, they anticipate four fragments with a mass exceeding 100 grams. The asteroid is estimated to have had an initial mass of 140 kilograms and is classified as an aubrite, characterized by its low iron content.