The Bunburra Rockhole meteorite fall in SW Australia: fireball trajectory, luminosity, dynamics, orbit, and impact position from photographic and photoelectric records

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

Paxman

et al. 2015

Abstract-Estimating the mass of a meteoroid passing through the Earth's atmosphere is essential to determining potential meteorite fall positions. High-resolution fireball images from dedicated camera networks provide the position and timing for fireball bright flight trajectories. There are two established mass determination methods: the photometric and the dynamic. A new approach is proposed, based on the dynamic method. A dynamic optimization initially constrains unknown meteoroid characteristics which are then used in a parametric model for an extended Kalman filter. The extended Kalman filter estimates the position, velocity, and mass of the meteoroid body throughout its flight, and quantitatively models uncertainties. Uncertainties have not previously been modeled so explicitly and are essential for determining fall distributions for potential meteorites. This two-step method aims to automate the process of mass determination for application to any trajectory data set and has been applied to observations of the Bunburra Rockhole fireball. The new method naturally handles noisy raw data. Initial and terminal bright flight mass results are consistent with other works based on the established photometric method and cosmic ray analysis. A full analysis of fragmentation and the variability in the heat-transfer coefficient will be explored in future versions of the model.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This can be obtained by the addition of a photoelectric photometer to a fireball observatory (Spurný et al. ). Not only is this an expensive piece of equipment in itself but also requires additional power supplies, which are limited in the remote locations of the DFN observatories.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel approach to fireball modeling: The observable and the calculated

Sansom

Meteorit & Planetary Scien

Paxman

et al. 2015

“…The film observatories used a photomultiplier tube to obtain a light curve for each meteorite, which was used to calculate fragmentation events and derive absolute timing information. The trial network resulted in two successful meteorite recoveries [3,4], proving the viability of a meteor camera network based in the Australian Outback. The observatories used numerous custom components and moving parts in the film handling system, mechanical shutter, retractable sun shade and lens covers leading to high manufacturing and maintenance costs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Advanced digital fireball observatories: Enabling the expansion of the desert fireball network

Howie

Paxman

2014 XXXIth URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium (URSI GASS)

et al. 2014

Self Cite

The Desert Fireball Network (DFN) is an Australian Research Council project designed to track fireballs over approximately one third of Australia. Meteorites with a known orbit, detected and recovered through fireball networks such as the DFN, provide information about the formation and history of the Solar System. The requirements and design of an Advanced Digital Fireball Observatory (ADFO) are presented alongside the design challenges and results of field testing. The deployment of over 60 ADFOs will allow the construction of a flexible continental scale planetary science installation producing high quality all-sky data for meteorite recovery and other uses.

“…The calculated orbit for Bunburra Rockhole showed that it came from an asteroid in an Aten-type orbit (Bland et al, 2009;Spurný et al, 2012). Using a probabilistic orbital evolution model (Bottke et al, 2002), Bland et al (2009) showed that Bunburra Rockhole originated from the innermost main belt, interior to 4 Vesta and the core Vestoid family (Zappala et al, 1995).…”

Section: Anomalous Naturementioning

confidence: 99%

Bunburra Rockhole: Exploring the geology of a new differentiated asteroid

Benedix

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

Friedrich

et al. 2017

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. We present the first Cr isotope results of this rock, which are also distinct from a majority of HEDs.Detailed computed tomographic scanning and back-scattered electron mapping do not indicate the presence of any other meteoritic contaminant (contamination is also unlikely based on trace element chemistry). We therefore conclude that Bunburra Rockhole represents a sample of a new differentiated asteroid, one that may have more variable oxygen isotopic compositions than 4 Vesta.The fact that Bunburra Rockhole chemistry falls on the eucrite trend perhaps suggests that multiple objects with basaltic crusts accreted in a similar region of the Solar System.