Multi‐Sensor Trajectory Reconstruction of the 24 April 2025 Alaska Fireball and Implications for Planetary Defense

Abstract On 24 April 2025 at 18:30:57 UTC, a bright daytime fireball over Southcentral Alaska was detected by 37 seismic stations, 16 single infrasound sensors, and four infrasound arrays, yielding 30 ballistic and multiple fragmentation arrivals. The unprecedented density of seismoacoustic coverage enabled detailed reconstruction of the event using acoustic signals, with fragmentation source locations further guiding the identification of Doppler weather radar signatures of a meteorite fall. Incorporation of a radar‐derived terminal point yielded a final trajectory solution, which agreed closely with an independent optical trajectory solution from video analysis. The reconstructed entry parameters from seismoacoustic analysis indicate a velocity of 25.3 km/s, an entry angle of 19°, and an energy release of ∼38 t TNT equivalent. Assuming a chondritic composition, the pre‐entry object diameter was ∼0.7 m. Using orbital parameters from the optical solution, we estimate meteoroid composition as most likely an L‐type ordinary chondrite. The event occurred in the sub‐Arctic, where space‐based optical systems face challenges in detection, demonstrating the critical role of dense ground‐based seismoacoustic networks in characterizing high‐latitude atmospheric entries. This uniquely well‐recorded event demonstrates the capability of dense seismoacoustic networks to constrain bolide trajectories, energetics, and fragmentation, with radar and optical data providing critical confirmation and complementary perspectives. These results bridge the methodological gap between planetary‐defense monitoring of natural impactors and space‐traffic analyses of artificial reentries, illustrating how multi‐sensor integration can deliver calibration‐grade trajectories even for unpredicted events.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research Planets
Published
2026-03-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2025je009440
Primary Topic
Astro and Planetary Science
Type
article
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article

Multi‐Sensor Trajectory Reconstruction of the 24 April 2025 Alaska Fireball and Implications for Planetary Defense

P. Jenniskens, Y. Nishikawa, D. Šegon, D. Vida et al.
Journal of Geophysical Research Planets
Astro and Planetary Science
article

Multi‐Sensor Trajectory Reconstruction of the 24 April 2025 Alaska Fireball and Implications for Planetary Defense

P. Jenniskens, Y. Nishikawa, D. Šegon, D. Vida, E. A. Silber, T. A. Rector, V. Sawal, L. T. Scamfer, M. D. Fries
article en

Abstract

Abstract On 24 April 2025 at 18:30:57 UTC, a bright daytime fireball over Southcentral Alaska was detected by 37 seismic stations, 16 single infrasound sensors, and four infrasound arrays, yielding 30 ballistic and multiple fragmentation arrivals. The unprecedented density of seismoacoustic coverage enabled detailed reconstruction of the event using acoustic signals, with fragmentation source locations further guiding the identification of Doppler weather radar signatures of a meteorite fall. Incorporation of a radar‐derived terminal point yielded a final trajectory solution, which agreed closely with an independent optical trajectory solution from video analysis. The reconstructed entry parameters from seismoacoustic analysis indicate a velocity of 25.3 km/s, an entry angle of 19°, and an energy release of ∼38 t TNT equivalent. Assuming a chondritic composition, the pre‐entry object diameter was ∼0.7 m. Using orbital parameters from the optical solution, we estimate meteoroid composition as most likely an L‐type ordinary chondrite. The event occurred in the sub‐Arctic, where space‐based optical systems face challenges in detection, demonstrating the critical role of dense ground‐based seismoacoustic networks in characterizing high‐latitude atmospheric entries. This uniquely well‐recorded event demonstrates the capability of dense seismoacoustic networks to constrain bolide trajectories, energetics, and fragmentation, with radar and optical data providing critical confirmation and complementary perspectives. These results bridge the methodological gap between planetary‐defense monitoring of natural impactors and space‐traffic analyses of artificial reentries, illustrating how multi‐sensor integration can deliver calibration‐grade trajectories even for unpredicted events.

Journal of Geophysical Research PlanetsVol. 131(3)
Western University (CA), Ames Research Center (US), University of Alaska Fairbanks (US), Osaka Kyoiku University (JP), University of Alaska Anchorage (US), Juraj Dobrila University of Pula (HR), Sandia National Laboratories (US), Croatian Science Foundation (HR), Johnson Space Center (US), Polytechnic Pula (HR), Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Astro and Planetary Science
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