261.

Jupiter at solar conjunction Jupiter 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, 13 May 2012 at 09:11 EDT (4,431 days ago) in Aries

262.

Saturn at opposition Saturn 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. Sun, 15 Apr 2012 at 14:18 EDT (4,459 days ago) in Virgo

263.

Mars ends retrograde motion Mars returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 at 23:52 EDT (4,461 days ago) in Leo

264.

Uranus at solar conjunction Uranus is unobservable as it passes around the far side of the Sun – marking the end of one apparition and the beginning of the next. Sat, 24 Mar 2012 at 14:11 EDT (4,481 days ago) in Pisces

265.

Mars at perigee Mars reaches its closest point to the Earth – marking the best time to observe it in 1970. Mon, 05 Mar 2012 at 11:55 EDT (4,500 days ago) in Leo

266.

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. Sat, 03 Mar 2012 at 15:04 EDT (4,502 days ago) in Leo

267.

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, 19 Feb 2012 at 15:32 EDT (4,515 days ago) in Aquarius

268.

Mars at aphelion Mars passes the furthest point along its orbit from the Sun. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 at 17:52 EDT (4,519 days ago) in Leo

269.

Saturn enters retrograde motion Saturn reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 at 09:06 EDT (4,527 days ago) in Virgo

270.

Mars enters retrograde motion Mars reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 at 19:53 EDT (4,542 days ago) in Virgo

271.

Jupiter ends retrograde motion Jupiter returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Sun, 25 Dec 2011 at 17:22 EDT (4,571 days ago) in Pisces

272.

Uranus ends retrograde motion Uranus returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Sat, 10 Dec 2011 at 02:59 EDT (4,586 days ago) in Pisces

273.

Neptune ends retrograde motion Neptune returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 at 13:34 EDT (4,617 days ago) in Aquarius

274.

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, 28 Oct 2011 at 21:34 EDT (4,629 days ago) in Aries

275.

Jupiter at perigee Jupiter reaches its closest point to the Earth – marking the best time to observe it in 1970. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 at 14:41 EDT (4,630 days ago) in Aries

276.

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, 13 Oct 2011 at 17:03 EDT (4,644 days ago) in Virgo

277.

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. Sun, 25 Sep 2011 at 20:06 EDT (4,662 days ago) in Pisces

278.

Jupiter enters retrograde motion Jupiter reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Tue, 30 Aug 2011 at 05:34 EDT (4,688 days ago) in Aries

279.

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, 22 Aug 2011 at 19:17 EDT (4,696 days ago) in Aquarius

280.

Uranus enters retrograde motion Uranus reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Sat, 09 Jul 2011 at 20:12 EDT (4,740 days ago) in Pisces