from February 4 to February 25
Stops and turns back on February 4 at 01:58, at 0°41' Pisces
Moves forward again on February 25 at 15:41, at 15°24' Aquarius
Shadow: from January 19 to March 17; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2001
In 2001, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 4 to February 25, from June 4 to June 28, from October 1 to October 23. Venus: from March 9 to April 20. Mars: from May 11 to July 19. London time.
Mercury
from June 4 to June 28
Stops and turns back on June 4 at 06:21, at 29°57' Gemini
Moves forward again on June 28 at 06:49, at 21°15' Gemini
Shadow: from May 20 to July 12; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from October 1 to October 23
Stops and turns back on October 1 at 20:23, at 29°41' Libra
Moves forward again on October 23 at 01:22, at 14°12' Libra
Shadow: from September 11 to November 7; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from March 9 to April 20
Stops and turns back on March 9 at 01:06, at 17°43' Aries
Moves forward again on April 20 at 05:34, at 1°27' Aries
Shadow: from February 4 to May 23; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
from May 11 to July 19
Stops and turns back on May 11 at 17:08, at 29°02' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on July 19 at 23:44, at 15°06' Sagittarius
Shadow: from March 18 to September 6; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Jupiter
from September 29, 2000 to January 25
Stops and turns back on September 29, 2000 at 13:51, at 11°14' Gemini
Moves forward again on January 25 at 08:37, at 1°11' Gemini
from November 2 to March 1, 2002
Stops and turns back on November 2 at 15:34, at 15°41' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 1, 2002 at 15:14, at 5°37' Cancer
Saturn
from September 12, 2000 to January 25
Stops and turns back on September 12, 2000 at 12:33, at 0°58' Gemini
Moves forward again on January 25 at 00:23, at 24°03' Taurus
from September 27 to February 8, 2002
Stops and turns back on September 27 at 01:04, at 14°58' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 8, 2002 at 01:31, at 8°01' Gemini
Uranus
from May 29 to October 30
Stops and turns back on May 29 at 16:11, at 24°50' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 30 at 22:55, at 20°54' Aquarius
Neptune
from May 11 to October 18
Stops and turns back on May 11 at 02:12, at 8°46' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 18 at 02:48, at 5°59' Aquarius
Pluto
from March 18 to August 23
Stops and turns back on March 18 at 02:38, at 15°16' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on August 23 at 17:07, at 12°32' Sagittarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2001?
In 2001, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 4 to February 25, from June 4 to June 28, from October 1 to October 23. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2001?
Yes: from March 9 to April 20. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2001?
Yes: from May 11 to July 19. London time.
What it is
A planet never moves backwards. But Earth and the planet orbit the Sun at different speeds: when one overtakes the other, the planet, seen from here, seems to slow down, stop, back up for a few weeks, then move forward again. It's a perspective effect, regular and predictable centuries in advance.
In astrology, a retrograde planet invites you to go back over what it stands for: for Mercury, the planet of communication, it's a time to reread, review and repair rather than start something new. It's a symbolic reading: nothing proves that Mercury retrograde makes devices break down, but the advice to reread before you hit send always helps.
The shadow, for Mercury, Venus and Mars: the planet covers the same degrees three times, moving forward, backward, then forward again. Some astrologers already see the retrograde's theme in the shadow: a build-up before, a wrap-up after.
How it is calculated
A station is the moment the planet seems to stop in the sky, before backing up or moving forward again. We look for it day by day, then refine it to the second with the Swiss Ephemeris (NASA ephemerides); the dates are checked against a second, independent calculation (Skyfield).