from March 2 to March 25
Stops and turns back on March 2 at 20:29, at 26°55' Pisces
Moves forward again on March 25 at 13:42, at 13°10' Pisces
Shadow: from February 16 to April 14; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2006
In 2006, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 2 to March 25, from July 4 to July 29, from October 28 to November 18. Venus: from December 24, 2005 to February 3. Mars does not go retrograde this year. London time.
Mercury
from July 4 to July 29
Stops and turns back on July 4 at 20:33, at 1°22' Leo
Moves forward again on July 29 at 01:39, at 21°03' Cancer
Shadow: from June 17 to August 12; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from October 28 to November 18
Stops and turns back on October 28 at 20:16, at 25°04' Scorpio
Moves forward again on November 18 at 00:25, at 9°03' Scorpio
Shadow: from October 9 to December 4; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from December 24, 2005 to February 3
Stops and turns back on December 24, 2005 at 09:36, at 1°28' Aquarius
Moves forward again on February 3 at 09:18, at 16°01' Capricorn
Shadow: from November 22, 2005 to March 7; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
No retrograde this year.
Jupiter
from March 4 to July 6
Stops and turns back on March 4 at 18:02, at 18°51' Scorpio
Moves forward again on July 6 at 08:18, at 8°58' Scorpio
Saturn
from November 22, 2005 to April 5
Stops and turns back on November 22, 2005 at 09:01, at 11°18' Leo
Moves forward again on April 5 at 13:54, at 4°22' Leo
from December 6 to April 19, 2007
Stops and turns back on December 6 at 04:06, at 25°04' Leo
Moves forward again on April 19, 2007 at 22:24, at 18°09' Leo
Uranus
from June 19 to November 20
Stops and turns back on June 19 at 08:39, at 14°43' Pisces
Moves forward again on November 20 at 06:08, at 10°48' Pisces
Neptune
from May 22 to October 29
Stops and turns back on May 22 at 14:05, at 19°49' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 29 at 07:55, at 17°01' Aquarius
Pluto
from March 29 to September 5
Stops and turns back on March 29 at 13:39, at 26°45' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on September 5 at 00:20, at 24°04' Sagittarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2006?
In 2006, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 2 to March 25, from July 4 to July 29, from October 28 to November 18. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2006?
Yes: from December 24, 2005 to February 3. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2006?
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).