Spectroscopy and Orbital Analysis of Bright Bolides Observed over the Iberian Peninsula from 2010 to 2012

TL;DR

This study analyzes the atmospheric trajectories, orbits, and compositions of four bright bolides over Spain, revealing their chondritic nature and potential meteorite fall, based on spectroscopic and orbital data collected from 2010 to 2012.

Contribution

It provides detailed spectroscopic and orbital analysis of bright bolides over Spain, including composition and tensile strength estimates, from a multi-year observational campaign.

Findings

Revealed chondritic composition of the meteoroids.

Estimated tensile strength of parent meteoroids.

Identified a potential meteorite dropping event.

Abstract

We present the analysis of the atmospheric trajectory and orbital data of four bright bolides observed over Spain, one of which is a potential meteorite dropping event. Their absolute magnitude ranges from -10 to -11. Two of these are of sporadic origin, although a Geminid and a kappa-Cygnid fireball are also considered. These events were recorded in the framework of the continuous fireball monitoring and spectroscopy campaigns developed by the SPanish Meteor Network (SPMN) between 2010 and 2012. The tensile strength of the parent meteoroids is estimated and the abundances of the main rock-forming elements in these particles are calculated from the emission spectrum obtained for three of these events. This analysis revealed a chondritic nature for these meteoroids.