Scientists have revealed new insights about asteroid 2023 CX1, which entered Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrated over northwestern France on February 13, 2023. The asteroid, measuring less than one metre in diameter and weighing approximately 650 kilograms (more than 1,400 pounds), lit up the sky around 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT) as it broke apart, providing a rare opportunity to study the disintegration of space rocks.
The journey began seven hours earlier when a Hungarian astronomer detected the asteroid approximately 200,000 kilometres (125,000 miles) from Earth. Following its detection, scientists from NASA and the European Space Agency swiftly calculated the asteroid’s trajectory and descent timeline with remarkable precision. Observatories worldwide collaborated to gather data on the asteroid’s passage, employing a variety of scientific instruments.
Collaboration with Amateur Astronomers
Among those actively involved were professional and amateur astronomers from France’s FRIPON/Vigie-Ciel network, a programme designed to detect and collect meteorite fragments. Meteorite specialist Brigitte Zanda from the National Museum of Natural History noted the valuable contributions from the public. The collaboration involved analyzing numerous photos and videos, including an “extremely useful” clip that captured the moment the asteroid fragmented.
Zanda commented on the significance of these contributions: “We received dozens of photos and videos of the asteroid’s seconds-long journey through the atmosphere. This allowed us to observe the phenomenon with unmatched precision.” The first meteorite fragment, weighing 93 grams (3.3 ounces), was located just two days after the event in the commune of Saint-Pierre-le-Viger, thanks to local residents. In total, around a dozen meteorites were recovered and added to the museum’s collection.
Scientific Insights from the Fragmentation
The findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy this week, detailing the fragmentation process of asteroid 2023 CX1. Researchers determined that the asteroid likely originated from a larger body in the Massalia asteroid family, located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. As it entered the atmosphere, the asteroid disintegrated abruptly in two stages, approximately 28 kilometres above the Earth’s surface, losing an astounding 98 percent of its mass during the process.
“This is maybe only the second time we have observed fragmentation like this,” Zanda explained. The speed, angle of impact, and internal structure of the rock likely contributed to the severity of its break-up, which released a substantial amount of energy. While none of the meteorites caused damage upon landing, simulations indicated that this type of abrupt fragmentation could pose a greater threat than a more gradual disintegration.
The research draws parallels to a previous event in 2013, when a larger asteroid exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. That incident involved a 20-metre-wide asteroid breaking into five fragments, each generating a shockwave that shattered windows and injured over 1,000 people.
As researchers continue to study the data from asteroid 2023 CX1, the collaboration between scientific institutions and the public highlights the growing importance of citizen science in advancing our understanding of these cosmic phenomena.
