Fall probability
Over a year, an area the size of the UK probably receives a few tens of meteorites, though few are seen or found.
How often do meteorites land? Estimates based on fireball camera networks suggest that, worldwide, tens of thousands of meteorites weighing more than about 10 grams fall each year. Many land in oceans, which cover about 70 per cent of Earth's surface, or in remote areas.
For an area the size of the UK, roughly 240,000 square kilometres, calculations suggest perhaps 10 to 40 meteorites of useful size might land each year, though estimates vary. Yet witnessed falls in the UK are recovered only every few decades: Winchcombe in 2021 was the first recovered British fall since Glatton in 1991.
The gap is because most falls happen at night, over the sea, in bad weather, or without anyone noticing, and searching fields and woods for small dark stones is hard. Better camera networks and public reporting are increasing the chances of recovery, so more falls will probably be found in future.
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