Participation of the Agricultural University of Athens in the full characterization of asteroid 2023 CX1
The Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), through the Department of Natural Resources Utilization and Agricultural Engineering, made a significant contribution to the groundbreaking study of asteroid 2023 CX1, providing unique scientific data for understanding and assessing asteroid-related risks.
A large international collaboration of nearly one hundred scientists, led by Auriane Egal (FRIPON/Montréal Planetarium/Western University of Ontario), and including Associate Professor Dr. Ioannis Baziotis from AUA, published in Nature Astronomy the first comprehensive study of an asteroid observed from discovery to its impact on Earth.
Asteroid 2023 CX1 was discovered on February 12, 2023, just seven hours before entering the atmosphere and impacting Normandy on February 13. It was nearly spherical, with a diameter just under 1 m and a mass of approximately 650 kg. It disintegrated abruptly at an altitude of 28 km, releasing 98% of its kinetic energy in a fraction of a second — an extremely rare behavior for such a small body. The explosion scattered over 100 fragments across the Normandy region, which were recovered near Saint-Pierre-Le-Viger. The recovered meteorite, named Saint-Pierre-Le-Viger, is the only ordinary chondrite ever studied from space to the laboratory.
An Unprecedented Scientific Mobilization
Over 100 professional and amateur researchers from Europe, America, Africa, and Australia collaborated, recording every stage: discovery, orbit, atmospheric entry (optical, acoustic, and seismic data), and laboratory analysis. This collaboration highlighted the power of international cooperation in studying rare celestial events.
Key Scientific Findings
- Prediction Record: Only the 7th asteroid predicted prior to impact. ESA and NASA calculated the impact time and location with high accuracy.
- Global First: First large-scale “targeted” meteorite observation thanks to the FRIPON/Vigie-Ciel network and citizen participation.
- Characterization: The only fully recorded “impending” asteroid – the meteorite belongs to the L-type ordinary chondrites, the most common class of meteorites.
- Orbit Precision: Deviation of less than 20 m between predicted and observed trajectory.
- Origin: Detached from the inner main asteroid belt approximately 30 million years ago.
- Unusual Fragmentation: Disintegrated abruptly at 28 km altitude, despite high strength (4 MPa), generating a strong shockwave.
- Increased Risk: This type of fragmentation may cause more damage than gradual breakups, as seen in the 2013 Chelyabinsk event.
Implications for Planetary Defense
The study highlights the need for full characterization of asteroids before impact as part of planetary defense protocols. Asteroids related to L-type chondrites and originating from the inner main belt may require enhanced alert systems and tailored evacuation plans in case of threat. As Dr. Ioannis Baziotis, one of the lead researchers in the official meteorite classification, notes, the sample provides a unique opportunity to study minerals formed under extreme pressures and temperatures following violent collisions in space.