241.

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, 30 Sep 2010 at 20:32 EDT (4,980 days ago) in Virgo

242.

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. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 at 12:50 EDT (4,989 days ago) in Pisces

243.

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. Tue, 21 Sep 2010 at 07:28 EDT (4,989 days ago) in Pisces

244.

Jupiter at perigee Jupiter reaches its closest point to the Earth – marking the best time to observe it in 1970. Mon, 20 Sep 2010 at 17:19 EDT (4,990 days ago) in Pisces

245.

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. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 at 05:58 EDT (5,021 days ago) in Capricornus

246.

Jupiter enters retrograde motion Jupiter reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 at 07:49 EDT (5,049 days ago) in Pisces

247.

Uranus enters retrograde motion Uranus reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Mon, 05 Jul 2010 at 12:57 EDT (5,067 days ago) in Pisces

248.

Neptune enters retrograde motion Neptune reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Mon, 31 May 2010 at 13:52 EDT (5,102 days ago) in Aquarius

249.

Saturn ends retrograde motion Saturn returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Sun, 30 May 2010 at 14:34 EDT (5,103 days ago) in Virgo

250.

Mars at aphelion Mars passes the furthest point along its orbit from the Sun. Tue, 30 Mar 2010 at 18:23 EDT (5,164 days ago) in Cancer

251.

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, 21 Mar 2010 at 20:29 EDT (5,173 days ago) in Virgo

252.

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. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 at 02:40 EDT (5,177 days ago) in Pisces

253.

Mars ends retrograde motion Mars returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 at 12:08 EDT (5,184 days ago) in Cancer

254.

Jupiter at apogee Jupiter reaches its furthest point from the Earth, as it passes around the far side of the Sun. Sun, 28 Feb 2010 at 08:55 EDT (5,194 days ago) in Aquarius

255.

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, 28 Feb 2010 at 05:33 EDT (5,194 days ago) in Aquarius

256.

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 (5,208 days ago) in Capricornus

257.

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 (5,224 days ago) in Cancer

258.

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 (5,226 days ago) in Cancer

259.

Saturn enters retrograde motion Saturn reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Wed, 13 Jan 2010 at 10:29 EDT (5,240 days ago) in Virgo

260.

Mars enters retrograde motion Mars reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Sun, 20 Dec 2009 at 08:25 EDT (5,264 days ago) in Leo