The year begins with the intense but brief Quadrantid maximum. Its brevity combined with typically poor winter weather hampers observation. January overall has good meteor rates restricted to the last third of the night. Rates to 20/hour con be obtained. A large number of radiants spread along the ecliptic from Concer to Virgo. This activity diminishes somewhat in February with the same areas active.
Late-night rates are fair in the first half of March, but become poor rather suddenly after mid-March. The very poor rates, seldom reaching 10/hour, continue into early June. However, two major showers appear in this intervol. The Lyrids past mid-April raise meteor rates for several nights. The Eta Aquarids enrich late nights of May's first half, sometimes substantially.
February, March, and April evenings have another notable feature. An unusual number of sporadic fireballs come in this interval, possibly one every few nights.
June to mid-July has fair rates. The last half of July has rates increasing steadily as the Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids have maxima at month's end. Even the Perseids are beginning to show a little.
Overall, late July to mid-August is very rich in meteors. The Perseid maximum, just before mid-August, is fairly prolonged and quite rich.
High sporadic activity after midnight continues for the rest of the year, but especially in September and the first half of December. Sporadic rates over 20/hour are possible for this entire interval. September radiants are numerous in Aries and Taurus.
Mid-October to mid-December is a nearly continuous period of heavy meteor activity. The Orionids during the second half of October have a prolonged, plateau maximum for several nights, usually rich. The Taurids, active for two months, are most numerous in Novembes's first half, and can be rather variable in strength. This period is the best for a couple of Taurid fireballs each night, if the shower is not too weak. The Leonids of mid-November are quite unpredictable, with surprising displays still occurring after the 1966 storm.
Finally the Geminids of mid-December climax the year with the strongest dependable and observable display. Geminid rates usually pass 60-70/hour at maximum. Concurrent activity from Leo and Canis Minor is also notable during the Geminids. Nearly half the year's visual meteor activity is crammed into the two-month interval just described.