281.

Mars enters retrograde motion Mars reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Sun, 20 Dec 2009 at 08:25 EDT (5,255 days ago) in Leo

282.

Uranus ends retrograde motion Uranus returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 at 16:36 EDT (5,274 days ago) in Aquarius

283.

Neptune ends retrograde motion Neptune returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 at 14:31 EDT (5,301 days ago) in Capricornus

284.

Jupiter ends retrograde motion Jupiter returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Tue, 13 Oct 2009 at 00:31 EDT (5,323 days ago) in Capricornus

285.

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 (5,349 days ago) in Virgo

286.

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 (5,349 days ago) in Pisces

287.

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 (5,362 days ago) in Virgo

288.

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 (5,380 days ago) in Capricornus

289.

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 (5,383 days ago) in Capricornus

290.

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 (5,383 days ago) in Capricornus

291.

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 (5,387 days ago) in Leo

292.

Uranus enters retrograde motion Uranus reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 at 03:34 EDT (5,427 days ago) in Pisces

293.

Jupiter enters retrograde motion Jupiter reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 at 03:57 EDT (5,443 days ago) in Capricornus

294.

Neptune enters retrograde motion Neptune reverses its direction of motion across the sky. Thu, 28 May 2009 at 23:55 EDT (5,461 days ago) in Capricornus

295.

Saturn ends retrograde motion Saturn returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Sat, 16 May 2009 at 21:59 EDT (5,473 days ago) in Leo

296.

Mars at perihelion Mars passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 at 05:49 EDT (5,498 days ago) in Pisces

297.

Uranus at aphelion Uranus passes the furthest point along its orbit from the Sun. Thu, 02 Apr 2009 at 13:56 EDT (5,517 days ago) in Pisces

298.

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 (5,538 days ago) in Aquarius

299.

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 (5,542 days ago) in Leo

300.

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. Thu, 12 Feb 2009 at 07:32 EDT (5,566 days ago) in Capricornus