from January 18 to February 8
Stops and turns back on January 18 at 20:49, at 14°29' Aquarius
Moves forward again on February 8 at 17:27, at 28°37' Capricorn
Shadow: from January 2 to February 28; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2002
In 2002, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from January 18 to February 8, from May 15 to June 8, from September 14 to October 6. Venus: from October 10 to November 21. Mars does not go retrograde this year. London time.
Mercury
from May 15 to June 8
Stops and turns back on May 15 at 19:49, at 9°59' Gemini
Moves forward again on June 8 at 16:11, at 1°21' Gemini
Shadow: from May 1 to June 24; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from September 14 to October 6
Stops and turns back on September 14 at 20:38, at 13°14' Libra
Moves forward again on October 6 at 20:25, at 28°19' Virgo
Shadow: from August 25 to October 21; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from October 10 to November 21
Stops and turns back on October 10 at 19:34, at 15°36' Scorpio
Moves forward again on November 21 at 07:12, at 0°03' Scorpio
Shadow: from September 8 to December 22; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
No retrograde this year.
Jupiter
from November 2, 2001 to March 1
Stops and turns back on November 2, 2001 at 15:34, at 15°41' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 1 at 15:14, at 5°37' Cancer
from December 4 to April 4, 2003
Stops and turns back on December 4 at 12:21, at 18°06' Leo
Moves forward again on April 4, 2003 at 04:03, at 8°03' Leo
Saturn
from September 27, 2001 to February 8
Stops and turns back on September 27, 2001 at 01:04, at 14°58' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 8 at 01:31, at 8°01' Gemini
from October 11 to February 22, 2003
Stops and turns back on October 11 at 14:01, at 29°05' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 22, 2003 at 07:40, at 22°08' Gemini
Uranus
from June 3 to November 4
Stops and turns back on June 3 at 01:11, at 28°50' Aquarius
Moves forward again on November 4 at 06:27, at 24°54' Aquarius
Neptune
from May 13 to October 20
Stops and turns back on May 13 at 13:10, at 10°58' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 20 at 14:52, at 8°11' Aquarius
Pluto
from March 20 to August 26
Stops and turns back on March 20 at 14:53, at 17°37' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on August 26 at 12:00, at 14°54' Sagittarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2002?
In 2002, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from January 18 to February 8, from May 15 to June 8, from September 14 to October 6. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2002?
Yes: from October 10 to November 21. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2002?
Mars does not go retrograde this year.
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).