from February 14 to March 8
Stops and turns back on February 14 at 04:37, at 10°13' Pisces
Moves forward again on March 8 at 04:44, at 25°24' Aquarius
Shadow: from January 30 to March 28; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2007
In 2007, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 14 to March 8, from June 16 to July 10, from October 12 to November 1. Venus: from July 27 to September 8. Mars: from November 15 to January 30, 2008. London time.
Mercury
from June 16 to July 10
Stops and turns back on June 16 at 00:40, at 11°35' Cancer
Moves forward again on July 10 at 03:15, at 2°28' Cancer
Shadow: from May 31 to July 24; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from October 12 to November 1
Stops and turns back on October 12 at 04:59, at 9°04' Scorpio
Moves forward again on November 1 at 22:58, at 23°21' Libra
Shadow: from September 21 to November 17; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from July 27 to September 8
Stops and turns back on July 27 at 18:27, at 2°57' Virgo
Moves forward again on September 8 at 17:14, at 16°35' Leo
Shadow: from June 24 to October 11; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
from November 15 to January 30, 2008
Stops and turns back on November 15 at 08:24, at 12°27' Cancer
Moves forward again on January 30, 2008 at 22:33, at 24°04' Gemini
Shadow: from September 16 to April 4, 2008; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Jupiter
from April 6 to August 7
Stops and turns back on April 6 at 02:22, at 19°46' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on August 7 at 03:04, at 9°55' Sagittarius
Saturn
from December 6, 2006 to April 19
Stops and turns back on December 6, 2006 at 04:06, at 25°04' Leo
Moves forward again on April 19 at 22:24, at 18°09' Leo
from December 19 to May 3, 2008
Stops and turns back on December 19 at 14:09, at 8°34' Virgo
Moves forward again on May 3, 2008 at 04:07, at 1°40' Virgo
Uranus
from June 23 to November 24
Stops and turns back on June 23 at 15:42, at 18°41' Pisces
Moves forward again on November 24 at 10:15, at 14°46' Pisces
Neptune
from May 25 to October 31
Stops and turns back on May 25 at 02:08, at 22°02' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 31 at 20:06, at 19°14' Aquarius
Pluto
from March 31 to September 7
Stops and turns back on March 31 at 23:45, at 28°58' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on September 7 at 15:54, at 26°18' Sagittarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2007?
In 2007, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 14 to March 8, from June 16 to July 10, from October 12 to November 1. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2007?
Yes: from July 27 to September 8. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2007?
Yes: from November 15 to January 30, 2008. 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).