The atmospheric trajectory and heliocentric orbit of the Neuschwanstein meteorite fall on April 6, 2002

Abstract

We report the detection of a unique bolide photographed at 5 German, 1 Czech aund 1 Austrian station fo the European Fireball Network (EN). The slow- moving fireball with initial velocity of 21 km/s reached the maximum absolute brightness of -17.2 magnitude and was photographed down to 16 km. Several meteorite fragments with total mass of about 20 kilograms are expected to have been dropped. One stony meteorite, very probably an ordinary H-chondrite of 1.75 kilogram was recovered in the predicted impact area, which lies completely in rugged high mountain terrain. The bolide's heliocentric orbit is exceptional as it is practically identical to the orbit of the first photographed meteorite fall in history, the Pribram multiple meteorite fall on April 7, 1959. Both orbits are so similar that there is little doubt that both bodies have the same origin. This meteorite case adds much further evidence for the existence of asteroidal and meteorite streams.