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 (5,207 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 (5,223 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 (5,225 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 (5,239 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 (5,263 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 (5,282 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 (5,309 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 (5,331 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 (5,357 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 (5,357 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 (5,370 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 (5,388 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 (5,391 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 (5,391 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 (5,395 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 (5,435 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 (5,451 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 (5,469 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 (5,481 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 (5,506 days ago) in Pisces