Chondryt Antonin – pierwszy polski meteoryt ze zrekonstruowaną orbitą wokółsłoneczną. Raport z klasyfikacji i rejestracji oraz propozycje działań mogących wzbogacić kolekcję polskich meteorytów
Abstract
The Antonin Chondrite – the first Polish meteorite with reconstructed pre-atmospheric orbit. Report on registration and classification, including proposals for measures to expand the Polish meteorite collection.
A b s t r a c t. On July 15, 2021, a bright fireball was registered over Poland and it led to a meteorite fall near the towns of Antonin and Mikstat, on the border of the Greater Poland and Lower Silesia voivodeships. Soon after registration of the bolide, a meteorite fragment was found. Observation of the fireball’s trajectory helped to reconstruct the pre-atmospheric parameters of the meteoroid, such as the orbit inclination or eccentricity (Shrbený et al., 2022). Additionally, finding of the meteorite fragment enabled petrographic research and reconstruction of the thermal and collisional history of meteorite’s parent body. The Antonin meteorite is the first Polish meteorite with the reconstructed pre-atmospheric orbit and, at the moment, one of only fifty in the world. It is an L5 ordinary chondrite (Shrbený et al., 2022; Krzesińska, 2023). Here we present a report on the classification and registration process of the Antonin meteorite. Registration included measurements of cosmogenic isotope, necessary to prove the connection of the meteorite with the observed bolide. The specimen was found during the private expedition, so no direct proof existed for find in the predicted fall area. Cosmogenic isotope study allowed to assessing the time of meteorite fall, which matched the fireball event. Classification included petrographic and mineralogical analysis of the rock. The fall and find circumstances of Antonin allowed us to reflect on the lack of awareness of the Polish society regarding meteorites. Such unawareness is also seen when the whole collection of Polish meteorites is statistically analysed. We present such analysis at the end of the paper, and conclude that many meteorite falls in Poland must be unnoticed. Additionally, inability of citizens to recognize a meteorite, especially a chondrite, causes that many of these rocks remain unrecovered. The aim of this paper is to inspire the reader to pay attention to falls of meteorites, and to look for potential meteorite rocks. In final, we encourage the readers to get involved in activities of fireball networks and to take part in meteorite recovery trips.
A b s t r a c t. On July 15, 2021, a bright fireball was registered over Poland and it led to a meteorite fall near the towns of Antonin and Mikstat, on the border of the Greater Poland and Lower Silesia voivodeships. Soon after registration of the bolide, a meteorite fragment was found. Observation of the fireball’s trajectory helped to reconstruct the pre-atmospheric parameters of the meteoroid, such as the orbit inclination or eccentricity (Shrbený et al., 2022). Additionally, finding of the meteorite fragment enabled petrographic research and reconstruction of the thermal and collisional history of meteorite’s parent body. The Antonin meteorite is the first Polish meteorite with the reconstructed pre-atmospheric orbit and, at the moment, one of only fifty in the world. It is an L5 ordinary chondrite (Shrbený et al., 2022; Krzesińska, 2023). Here we present a report on the classification and registration process of the Antonin meteorite. Registration included measurements of cosmogenic isotope, necessary to prove the connection of the meteorite with the observed bolide. The specimen was found during the private expedition, so no direct proof existed for find in the predicted fall area. Cosmogenic isotope study allowed to assessing the time of meteorite fall, which matched the fireball event. Classification included petrographic and mineralogical analysis of the rock. The fall and find circumstances of Antonin allowed us to reflect on the lack of awareness of the Polish society regarding meteorites. Such unawareness is also seen when the whole collection of Polish meteorites is statistically analysed. We present such analysis at the end of the paper, and conclude that many meteorite falls in Poland must be unnoticed. Additionally, inability of citizens to recognize a meteorite, especially a chondrite, causes that many of these rocks remain unrecovered. The aim of this paper is to inspire the reader to pay attention to falls of meteorites, and to look for potential meteorite rocks. In final, we encourage the readers to get involved in activities of fireball networks and to take part in meteorite recovery trips.