241.

Saturn enters retrograde motion Saturn reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Wed, 13 Jan 2010 at 10:29 EDT (5,219 days ago) in Virgo

242.

Mars enters retrograde motion Mars reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Sun, 20 Dec 2009 at 08:25 EDT (5,243 days ago) in Leo

243.

Uranus ends retrograde motion Uranus returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 at 16:36 EDT (5,262 days ago) in Aquarius

244.

Neptune ends retrograde motion Neptune returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 at 14:31 EDT (5,289 days ago) in Capricornus

245.

Jupiter ends retrograde motion Jupiter returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Tue, 13 Oct 2009 at 00:31 EDT (5,311 days ago) in Capricornus

246.

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 (5,337 days ago) in Virgo

247.

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 (5,337 days ago) in Pisces

248.

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 (5,350 days ago) in Virgo

249.

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 (5,368 days ago) in Capricornus

250.

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 (5,371 days ago) in Capricornus

251.

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 (5,371 days ago) in Capricornus

252.

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 (5,375 days ago) in Leo

253.

Uranus enters retrograde motion Uranus reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 at 03:34 EDT (5,415 days ago) in Pisces

254.

Jupiter enters retrograde motion Jupiter reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 at 03:57 EDT (5,431 days ago) in Capricornus

255.

Neptune enters retrograde motion Neptune reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Thu, 28 May 2009 at 23:55 EDT (5,449 days ago) in Capricornus

256.

Saturn ends retrograde motion Saturn returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Sat, 16 May 2009 at 21:59 EDT (5,461 days ago) in Leo

257.

Mars at perihelion Mars passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 at 05:49 EDT (5,486 days ago) in Pisces

258.

Uranus at aphelion Uranus passes the furthest point along its orbit from the Sun. Thu, 02 Apr 2009 at 13:56 EDT (5,505 days ago) in Pisces

259.

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. Thu, 12 Mar 2009 at 21:18 EDT (5,526 days ago) in Aquarius

260.

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, 08 Mar 2009 at 15:45 EDT (5,530 days ago) in Leo