201.

Neptune at solar conjunction Neptune is unobservable as it passes around the far side of the Sun – marking the end of one apparition and the beginning of the next. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 at 18:10 EDT (5,221 days ago) in Capricornus

202.

Mars at opposition Mars lies in the opposite direction to the Sun in the sky, making it closer, brighter and larger than at other times. It is also optimally positioned to be observable for much of the night. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 at 14:37 EDT (5,237 days ago) in Cancer

203.

Mars at perigee Mars reaches its closest point to the Earth – marking the best time to observe it in 1970. Wed, 27 Jan 2010 at 13:55 EDT (5,239 days ago) in Cancer

204.

Saturn enters retrograde motion Saturn reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Wed, 13 Jan 2010 at 10:29 EDT (5,253 days ago) in Virgo

205.

Mars enters retrograde motion Mars reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Sun, 20 Dec 2009 at 08:25 EDT (5,277 days ago) in Leo

206.

Uranus ends retrograde motion Uranus returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 at 16:36 EDT (5,296 days ago) in Aquarius

207.

Neptune ends retrograde motion Neptune returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 at 14:31 EDT (5,323 days ago) in Capricornus

208.

Jupiter ends retrograde motion Jupiter returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Tue, 13 Oct 2009 at 00:31 EDT (5,345 days ago) in Capricornus

209.

Saturn at solar conjunction Saturn is unobservable as it passes around the far side of the Sun – marking the end of one apparition and the beginning of the next. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 at 14:12 EDT (5,371 days ago) in Virgo

210.

Uranus at opposition Uranus lies in the opposite direction to the Sun in the sky, making it optimally positioned to be observable for much of the night. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 at 05:33 EDT (5,371 days ago) in Pisces

211.

Saturn ring plane crossing Saturn's seasons are changing, making its rings appear edge-on from the Earth. Fri, 04 Sep 2009 at 07:40 EDT (5,384 days ago) in Virgo

212.

Neptune at opposition Neptune lies in the opposite direction to the Sun in the sky, making it optimally positioned to be observable for much of the night. Mon, 17 Aug 2009 at 16:46 EDT (5,402 days ago) in Capricornus

213.

Jupiter at perigee Jupiter reaches its closest point to the Earth – marking the best time to observe it in 1970. Fri, 14 Aug 2009 at 23:13 EDT (5,405 days ago) in Capricornus

214.

Jupiter at opposition Jupiter lies in the opposite direction to the Sun in the sky, making it slightly closer, brighter and larger than at other times. It is also optimally positioned to be observable for much of the night. Fri, 14 Aug 2009 at 13:45 EDT (5,405 days ago) in Capricornus

215.

Equinox on Saturn Saturn's seasons are changing, making its rings appear edge-on from the Earth. Mon, 10 Aug 2009 at 14:00 EDT (5,409 days ago) in Leo

216.

Uranus enters retrograde motion Uranus reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 at 03:34 EDT (5,449 days ago) in Pisces

217.

Jupiter enters retrograde motion Jupiter reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 at 03:57 EDT (5,465 days ago) in Capricornus

218.

Neptune enters retrograde motion Neptune reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Thu, 28 May 2009 at 23:55 EDT (5,483 days ago) in Capricornus

219.

Saturn ends retrograde motion Saturn returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Sat, 16 May 2009 at 21:59 EDT (5,495 days ago) in Leo

220.

Mars at perihelion Mars passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 at 05:49 EDT (5,520 days ago) in Pisces