* Most meteorites go undetected: The vast majority of meteorites land in remote areas, oceans, or are simply too small to be noticed.
* Limited tracking: While there are networks like NASA's "Fireball Network" that track fireballs (bright meteors), they don't capture every single one.
* Recovery and classification: Even when a meteorite is observed, it doesn't always get recovered or officially classified.
What we can say:
* A significant number: There are likely hundreds, if not thousands, of meteorites that fall to Earth each year.
* Notable events: Sometimes, specific meteor showers or large meteorite falls gain attention, but these are a small fraction of the total.
So, while we can't give you a precise count, it's safe to say that many meteorites fell in 1997, just like they do every year.
