1997 succeeds 1996 and proceeds 1998. This is a list of astronomy related discoveries, events, and more that occurred in 1997.
April[]
- April 24: Rho Coronae Borealis b is discovered.
June[]
- June 27: NEAR Shoemaker visits the asteroid Mathilde.
July[]
- July 4: Mars Pathfinder lands on Mars.
September[]
- September 6: Caliban and Sycorax are discovered.
- September 27: Contact is lost with Mars Pathfinder.
October[]
- October 25: Cassini-Huygens spacecraft is launched.