Raspberry Boom network triangulates 30 May 2026 Cape Cod Bay meteor to 40-50 km altitude using timing offsets

The preprint reports one-and-a-half cycles of a 0.4 Hz pressure pulse detected across university and private Raspberry Boom sensors. Timing differences between sites allowed directivity estimation, while the distance-timing relation confirmed the source as an atmospheric airburst rather than a ground impact. Acoustic power scaled from measured overpressures yielded the 5-14% efficiency range, consistent with prior models of meteor kinetic-to-acoustic conversion.

This approach demonstrates how low-cost infrasound arrays can supply rapid location and energy estimates for future events that could affect aviation or coastal populations. Unlike single-station detections, the multi-sensor geometry constrains both azimuth and range, reducing ambiguity that has historically limited public-warning utility. The 2026 event therefore serves as a proof-of-concept for integrating citizen-grade sensors into regional space-debris monitoring.

Related work on the 2013 Chelyabinsk airburst showed similar frequency content and conversion efficiencies when array data were available; however, those analyses relied on sparse professional stations. The Boston network adds density that future all-sky camera networks could cross-calibrate. A key limitation remains the assumption of a point-source blast; extended fragmentation would broaden the waveform and bias energy estimates downward.

Next steps include fusing these acoustic solutions with optical trajectories from the American Meteor Society and testing automated pipelines that issue preliminary alerts within minutes of detection.