from March 20 to April 12
Stops and turns back on March 20 at 00:14, at 14°06' Aries
Moves forward again on April 12 at 08:45, at 1°44' Aries
Shadow: from March 6 to April 30; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2005
In 2005, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 20 to April 12, from July 23 to August 16, from November 14 to December 4. Venus: from December 24 to February 3, 2006. Mars: from October 1 to December 10. London time.
Mercury
from July 23 to August 16
Stops and turns back on July 23 at 04:00, at 20°28' Leo
Moves forward again on August 16 at 04:50, at 8°45' Leo
Shadow: from July 4 to August 30; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from November 14 to December 4
Stops and turns back on November 14 at 05:42, at 10°56' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on December 4 at 02:23, at 24°44' Scorpio
Shadow: from October 26 to December 21; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from December 24 to February 3, 2006
Stops and turns back on December 24 at 09:36, at 1°28' Aquarius
Moves forward again on February 3, 2006 at 09:18, at 16°01' Capricorn
Shadow: from November 22 to March 7, 2006; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
from October 1 to December 10
Stops and turns back on October 1 at 23:03, at 23°22' Taurus
Moves forward again on December 10 at 04:03, at 8°14' Taurus
Shadow: from August 12 to February 3, 2006; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Jupiter
from February 2 to June 5
Stops and turns back on February 2 at 02:26, at 18°51' Libra
Moves forward again on June 5 at 08:20, at 8°55' Libra
Saturn
from November 8, 2004 to March 22
Stops and turns back on November 8, 2004 at 06:54, at 27°20' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 22 at 02:53, at 20°23' Cancer
from November 22 to April 5, 2006
Stops and turns back on November 22 at 09:01, at 11°18' Leo
Moves forward again on April 5, 2006 at 13:54, at 4°22' Leo
Uranus
from June 14 to November 16
Stops and turns back on June 14 at 23:37, at 10°45' Pisces
Moves forward again on November 16 at 00:08, at 6°50' Pisces
Neptune
from May 20 to October 27
Stops and turns back on May 20 at 00:35, at 17°36' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 27 at 00:23, at 14°49' Aquarius
Pluto
from March 27 to September 2
Stops and turns back on March 27 at 03:28, at 24°30' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on September 2 at 11:51, at 21°49' Sagittarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2005?
In 2005, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 20 to April 12, from July 23 to August 16, from November 14 to December 4. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2005?
Yes: from December 24 to February 3, 2006. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2005?
Yes: from October 1 to December 10. 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).