from January 28 to February 19
Stops and turns back on January 28 at 20:30, at 23°52' Aquarius
Moves forward again on February 19 at 02:57, at 8°19' Aquarius
Shadow: from January 13 to March 10; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2008
In 2008, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from January 28 to February 19, from May 26 to June 19, from September 24 to October 15. Venus does not go retrograde this year. Mars: from November 15, 2007 to January 30. London time.
Mercury
from May 26 to June 19
Stops and turns back on May 26 at 16:47, at 21°32' Gemini
Moves forward again on June 19 at 15:31, at 12°58' Gemini
Shadow: from May 11 to July 4; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from September 24 to October 15
Stops and turns back on September 24 at 08:16, at 22°50' Libra
Moves forward again on October 15 at 21:05, at 7°33' Libra
Shadow: from September 3 to October 31; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
No retrograde this year.
Mars
from November 15, 2007 to January 30
Stops and turns back on November 15, 2007 at 08:24, at 12°27' Cancer
Moves forward again on January 30 at 22:33, at 24°04' Gemini
Shadow: from September 16, 2007 to April 4; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Jupiter
from May 9 to September 8
Stops and turns back on May 9 at 13:11, at 22°22' Capricorn
Moves forward again on September 8 at 05:16, at 12°32' Capricorn
Saturn
from December 19, 2007 to May 3
Stops and turns back on December 19, 2007 at 14:09, at 8°34' Virgo
Moves forward again on May 3 at 04:07, at 1°40' Virgo
from December 31 to May 17, 2009
Stops and turns back on December 31 at 18:07, at 21°46' Virgo
Moves forward again on May 17, 2009 at 03:06, at 14°54' Virgo
Uranus
from June 27 to November 27
Stops and turns back on June 27 at 01:00, at 22°39' Pisces
Moves forward again on November 27 at 16:08, at 18°44' Pisces
Neptune
from May 26 to November 2
Stops and turns back on May 26 at 17:14, at 24°15' Aquarius
Moves forward again on November 2 at 06:38, at 21°28' Aquarius
Pluto
from April 2 to September 9
Stops and turns back on April 2 at 10:23, at 1°08' Capricorn
Moves forward again on September 9 at 04:13, at 28°29' Sagittarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2008?
In 2008, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from January 28 to February 19, from May 26 to June 19, from September 24 to October 15. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2008?
Venus does not go retrograde this year.
Is Mars retrograde in 2008?
Yes: from November 15, 2007 to January 30. 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).