from March 26 to April 18
Stops and turns back on March 26 at 00:43, at 19°44' Aries
Moves forward again on April 18 at 12:15, at 7°50' Aries
Shadow: from March 12 to May 6; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2031
In 2031, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 26 to April 18, from July 29 to August 22, from November 19 to December 9. Venus: from July 20 to September 1. Mars: from March 29 to June 13. London time.
Mercury
from July 29 to August 22
Stops and turns back on July 29 at 07:47, at 26°25' Leo
Moves forward again on August 22 at 05:28, at 14°17' Leo
Shadow: from July 10 to September 5; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from November 19 to December 9
Stops and turns back on November 19 at 21:15, at 16°03' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on December 9 at 16:23, at 29°48' Scorpio
Shadow: from October 31 to December 27; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from July 20 to September 1
Stops and turns back on July 20 at 18:08, at 26°25' Leo
Moves forward again on September 1 at 18:56, at 10°01' Leo
Shadow: from June 16 to October 5; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
from March 29 to June 13
Stops and turns back on March 29 at 00:34, at 21°38' Scorpio
Moves forward again on June 13 at 12:56, at 4°26' Scorpio
Shadow: from January 25 to August 10; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Jupiter
from April 15 to August 16
Stops and turns back on April 15 at 13:03, at 28°59' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on August 16 at 05:58, at 19°08' Sagittarius
Saturn
from September 20, 2030 to February 2
Stops and turns back on September 20, 2030 at 22:29, at 8°56' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 2 at 02:24, at 1°59' Gemini
from October 5 to February 16, 2032
Stops and turns back on October 5 at 11:50, at 23°01' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 16, 2032 at 06:59, at 16°03' Gemini
Uranus
from September 28, 2030 to February 25
Stops and turns back on September 28, 2030 at 09:26, at 22°53' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 25 at 11:24, at 18°50' Gemini
from October 3 to March 1, 2032
Stops and turns back on October 3 at 03:42, at 27°15' Gemini
Moves forward again on March 1, 2032 at 01:34, at 23°12' Gemini
Neptune
from July 19 to December 24
Stops and turns back on July 19 at 07:12, at 15°37' Aries
Moves forward again on December 24 at 07:40, at 12°49' Aries
Pluto
from May 14 to October 25
Stops and turns back on May 14 at 21:27, at 13°39' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 25 at 00:12, at 11°15' Aquarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2031?
In 2031, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 26 to April 18, from July 29 to August 22, from November 19 to December 9. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2031?
Yes: from July 20 to September 1. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2031?
Yes: from March 29 to June 13. 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).