from January 21 to February 11
Stops and turns back on January 21 at 15:54, at 17°05' Aquarius
Moves forward again on February 11 at 14:56, at 1°18' Aquarius
Shadow: from January 5 to March 3; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2015
In 2015, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from January 21 to February 11, from May 19 to June 11, from September 17 to October 9. Venus: from July 25 to September 6. Mars does not go retrograde this year. London time.
Mercury
from May 19 to June 11
Stops and turns back on May 19 at 02:49, at 13°08' Gemini
Moves forward again on June 11 at 23:32, at 4°33' Gemini
Shadow: from May 4 to June 27; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from September 17 to October 9
Stops and turns back on September 17 at 19:09, at 15°55' Libra
Moves forward again on October 9 at 15:57, at 0°53' Libra
Shadow: from August 28 to October 24; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from July 25 to September 6
Stops and turns back on July 25 at 10:28, at 0°46' Virgo
Moves forward again on September 6 at 09:29, at 14°23' Leo
Shadow: from June 21 to October 9; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
No retrograde this year.
Jupiter
from December 8, 2014 to April 8
Stops and turns back on December 8, 2014 at 20:41, at 22°37' Leo
Moves forward again on April 8 at 17:56, at 12°35' Leo
Saturn
from March 14 to August 2
Stops and turns back on March 14 at 15:02, at 4°55' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on August 2 at 06:52, at 28°16' Scorpio
Uranus
from July 26 to December 26
Stops and turns back on July 26 at 11:37, at 20°30' Aries
Moves forward again on December 26 at 03:52, at 16°33' Aries
Neptune
from June 12 to November 18
Stops and turns back on June 12 at 10:07, at 9°49' Pisces
Moves forward again on November 18 at 16:30, at 7°01' Pisces
Pluto
from April 17 to September 25
Stops and turns back on April 17 at 04:54, at 15°32' Capricorn
Moves forward again on September 25 at 07:57, at 12°58' Capricorn
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2015?
In 2015, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from January 21 to February 11, from May 19 to June 11, from September 17 to October 9. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2015?
Yes: from July 25 to September 6. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2015?
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).