Retrogrades
In 2030, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from December 22, 2029 to January 11, from April 13 to May 6, from August 16 to September 8, from December 6 to December 25. Venus: from December 16, 2029 to January 26. Mars does not go retrograde this year. London time.
from December 22, 2029 to January 11
Stops and turns back on December 22, 2029 at 05:50, at 17°42' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 11 at 05:45, at 1°26' Capricorn
Shadow: from December 4, 2029 to January 30; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from April 13 to May 6
Stops and turns back on April 13 at 03:33, at 7°47' Taurus
Moves forward again on May 6 at 21:14, at 27°26' Aries
Shadow: from March 30 to May 24; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from August 16 to September 8
Stops and turns back on August 16 at 02:20, at 14°29' Virgo
Moves forward again on September 8 at 10:27, at 1°06' Virgo
Shadow: from July 27 to September 22; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from December 6 to December 25
Stops and turns back on December 6 at 02:47, at 1°51' Capricorn
Moves forward again on December 25 at 21:14, at 15°33' Sagittarius
Shadow: from November 17 to January 13, 2031; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from December 16, 2029 to January 26
Stops and turns back on December 16, 2029 at 23:47, at 24°01' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 26 at 21:33, at 8°37' Capricorn
Shadow: from November 15, 2029 to February 27; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
No retrograde this year.
from March 13 to July 15
Stops and turns back on March 13 at 14:33, at 27°38' Scorpio
Moves forward again on July 15 at 02:26, at 17°45' Scorpio
from September 6, 2029 to January 19
Stops and turns back on September 6, 2029 at 09:34, at 25°01' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 19 at 03:53, at 18°05' Taurus
from September 20 to February 2, 2031
Stops and turns back on September 20 at 22:29, at 8°56' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 2, 2031 at 02:24, at 1°59' Gemini
from September 23, 2029 to February 20
Stops and turns back on September 23, 2029 at 17:21, at 18°33' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 20 at 23:22, at 14°30' Gemini
from September 28 to February 25, 2031
Stops and turns back on September 28 at 09:26, at 22°53' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 25, 2031 at 11:24, at 18°50' Gemini
from July 16 to December 21
Stops and turns back on July 16 at 17:29, at 13°22' Aries
Moves forward again on December 21 at 20:40, at 10°34' Aries
from May 13 to October 23
Stops and turns back on May 13 at 00:11, at 12°03' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 23 at 04:05, at 9°39' Aquarius
In 2030, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from December 22, 2029 to January 11, from April 13 to May 6, from August 16 to September 8, from December 6 to December 25. London time.
Yes: from December 16, 2029 to January 26. London time.
Mars does not go retrograde this year.
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.
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).