The observation of interstellar objects 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov suggests
the existence of a larger population of smaller projectiles that impact our
planet with unbound orbits. We analyze an asteroidal grazing meteor (FH1)
recorded by the Finnish Fireball Network on October 23, 2022. FH1 displayed a
likely hyperbolic orbit lying on the ecliptic plane with an estimated velocity
excess of ∼0.7 kms−1 at impact. FH1 may either be an interstellar
object, indicating a high-strength bias in this population, or an Oort cloud
object, which would reinforce migration-based solar system models. Furthermore,
under the calculated uncertainties, FH1 could potentially be associated with
the passage of Scholz's binary star system. Statistical evaluation of
uncertainties in the CNEOS database and study of its hyperbolic fireballs
reveals an anisotropic geocentric radiant distribution and low orbital
inclinations, challenging the assumption of a randomly incoming interstellar
population. Orbital integrations suggest that the event on March 9, 2017 (IM2)
from CNEOS may have experienced gravitational perturbation during the Scholz
fly-by, contingent upon velocity overestimation within the expected range.
These findings suggest that apparent interstellar meteors may, in fact, be the
result of accelerated meteoroid impacts caused by close encounters with massive
objects within or passing through our solar system.Comment: Accepted for publication in Icaru