The 2023 May 20 Queensland Superbolide: Multimodal Observations from Atmospheric Entry to Postdisruption Dust Cloud
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: On 2023 May 20, a ∼3.7 m diameter asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere over northwest Queensland, Australia, at 27.9 km s −1 and underwent catastrophic fragmentation at ∼29 km altitude, producing 1 of the 20 most energetic bolide events reported by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) since 1988 and the most energetic over Australia (∼7.1 kt TNT equivalent). We present a multimodal analysis integrating CNEOS optical data, trajectory determination, infrasound detections at six International Monitoring System stations (up to 8030 km), seismic observations, and Himawari-9 geostationary satellite thermal infrared imagery. Infrasound observations independently confirm a multikiloton source, and the infrasound-derived source altitude (30 ± 5 km) is consistent with the CNEOS-reported peak brightness altitude. We report the first nighttime detection and mass quantification of a bolide dust cloud from geostationary orbit; the cloud persisted for over 1 hr, yielding a dust mass of 10.9–32.8 metric tons (14%–43% of the preatmospheric mass). With an estimated recurrence interval of ∼1.5 yr for events of this energy or greater, the Queensland superbolide provides an end-to-end observational benchmark for atmospheric entry models and planetary defense.
Source: The Astronomical Journal
Authors: Elizabeth A. Silber, Miro Ronac Giannone, Hadrien A. R. Devillepoix, Mark Boslough, Iona Clemente, Loring P. Schaible, Denis Vida, Damir Šegon, Yleana Ceballos, Eleanor K. Sansom, Leigh Tyers, Seamus L. Anderson, Hany S. Elbehiri, Masa-yuki Yamamoto, Claus Hetzer, Katherine R. Bermingham, Hely C. Branco, Hope Tornabene, Logan T. Scamfer, Randy Longenbaugh, Yasuhiro Nishikawa, Vedant Sawal
Institutions: Sandia National Laboratories, Curtin University, University of New Mexico, Western University, Kochi University of Technology, Goddard Space Flight Center, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, University of Mississippi, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Osaka Kyoiku University
Language: English
Topic: Astro and Planetary Science
Subfield: Space and Planetary Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Award: G1553938062
OpenAlex ID: W7204473855