from February 17 to March 10
Stops and turns back on February 17 at 00:54, at 12°53' Pisces
Moves forward again on March 10 at 03:48, at 28°12' Aquarius
Shadow: from February 2 to March 30; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2020
In 2020, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 17 to March 10, from June 18 to July 12, from October 14 to November 3. Venus: from May 13 to June 25. Mars: from September 9 to November 14. London time.
Mercury
from June 18 to July 12
Stops and turns back on June 18 at 05:58, at 14°45' Cancer
Moves forward again on July 12 at 09:26, at 5°29' Cancer
Shadow: from June 2 to July 26; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from October 14 to November 3
Stops and turns back on October 14 at 02:04, at 11°40' Scorpio
Moves forward again on November 3 at 17:49, at 25°53' Libra
Shadow: from September 23 to November 19; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from May 13 to June 25
Stops and turns back on May 13 at 07:45, at 21°50' Gemini
Moves forward again on June 25 at 07:48, at 5°20' Gemini
Shadow: from April 9 to July 29; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
from September 9 to November 14
Stops and turns back on September 9 at 23:22, at 28°08' Aries
Moves forward again on November 14 at 00:35, at 15°14' Aries
Shadow: from July 25 to January 2, 2021; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Jupiter
from May 14 to September 13
Stops and turns back on May 14 at 15:32, at 27°14' Capricorn
Moves forward again on September 13 at 01:40, at 17°24' Capricorn
Saturn
from May 11 to September 29
Stops and turns back on May 11 at 05:09, at 1°57' Aquarius
Moves forward again on September 29 at 06:11, at 25°20' Capricorn
Uranus
from August 12, 2019 to January 11
Stops and turns back on August 12, 2019 at 03:26, at 6°36' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 11 at 01:47, at 2°38' Taurus
from August 15 to January 14, 2021
Stops and turns back on August 15 at 15:26, at 10°41' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 14, 2021 at 08:35, at 6°43' Taurus
Neptune
from June 23 to November 29
Stops and turns back on June 23 at 05:32, at 20°57' Pisces
Moves forward again on November 29 at 00:36, at 18°09' Pisces
Pluto
from April 25 to October 4
Stops and turns back on April 25 at 19:53, at 24°59' Capricorn
Moves forward again on October 4 at 14:32, at 22°29' Capricorn
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2020?
In 2020, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 17 to March 10, from June 18 to July 12, from October 14 to November 3. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2020?
Yes: from May 13 to June 25. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2020?
Yes: from September 9 to November 14. 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).