from February 6 to February 28
Stops and turns back on February 6 at 21:43, at 3°20' Pisces
Moves forward again on February 28 at 14:00, at 18°09' Aquarius
Shadow: from January 22 to March 20; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2014
In 2014, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 6 to February 28, from June 7 to July 1, from October 4 to October 25. Venus: from December 21, 2013 to January 31. Mars: from March 1 to May 20. London time.
Mercury
from June 7 to July 1
Stops and turns back on June 7 at 12:56, at 3°10' Cancer
Moves forward again on July 1 at 13:49, at 24°22' Gemini
Shadow: from May 23 to July 16; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from October 4 to October 25
Stops and turns back on October 4 at 18:02, at 2°18' Scorpio
Moves forward again on October 25 at 20:16, at 16°45' Libra
Shadow: from September 14 to November 10; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from December 21, 2013 to January 31
Stops and turns back on December 21, 2013 at 21:53, at 28°58' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 31 at 20:48, at 13°33' Capricorn
Shadow: from November 20, 2013 to March 4; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
from March 1 to May 20
Stops and turns back on March 1 at 16:23, at 27°31' Libra
Moves forward again on May 20 at 02:31, at 9°01' Libra
Shadow: from December 26, 2013 to July 21; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Jupiter
from November 7, 2013 to March 6
Stops and turns back on November 7, 2013 at 05:03, at 20°30' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 6 at 10:42, at 10°26' Cancer
from December 8 to April 8, 2015
Stops and turns back on December 8 at 20:41, at 22°37' Leo
Moves forward again on April 8, 2015 at 17:56, at 12°35' Leo
Saturn
from March 2 to July 20
Stops and turns back on March 2 at 16:19, at 23°19' Scorpio
Moves forward again on July 20 at 21:35, at 16°38' Scorpio
Uranus
from July 22 to December 21
Stops and turns back on July 22 at 03:52, at 16°30' Aries
Moves forward again on December 21 at 22:44, at 12°34' Aries
Neptune
from June 9 to November 16
Stops and turns back on June 9 at 20:49, at 7°35' Pisces
Moves forward again on November 16 at 07:05, at 4°47' Pisces
Pluto
from April 15 to September 23
Stops and turns back on April 15 at 00:47, at 13°34' Capricorn
Moves forward again on September 23 at 01:35, at 10°59' Capricorn
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2014?
In 2014, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 6 to February 28, from June 7 to July 1, from October 4 to October 25. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2014?
Yes: from December 21, 2013 to January 31. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2014?
Yes: from March 1 to May 20. 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).