from March 18 to April 10
Stops and turns back on March 18 at 06:07, at 12°22' Aries
Moves forward again on April 10 at 13:11, at 29°49' Pisces
Shadow: from March 4 to April 29; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2038
In 2038, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 18 to April 10, from July 21 to August 14, from November 12 to December 2. Venus: from December 14, 2037 to January 24. Mars does not go retrograde this year. London time.
Mercury
from July 21 to August 14
Stops and turns back on July 21 at 07:58, at 18°35' Leo
Moves forward again on August 14 at 09:49, at 7°02' Leo
Shadow: from July 3 to August 28; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from November 12 to December 2
Stops and turns back on November 12 at 14:56, at 9°24' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on December 2 at 12:30, at 23°14' Scorpio
Shadow: from October 24 to December 20; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from December 14, 2037 to January 24
Stops and turns back on December 14, 2037 at 12:46, at 21°31' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 24 at 10:19, at 6°08' Capricorn
Shadow: from November 12, 2037 to February 25; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
No retrograde this year.
Jupiter
from November 16, 2037 to March 15
Stops and turns back on November 16, 2037 at 02:16, at 29°47' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 15 at 17:51, at 19°43' Cancer
from December 17 to April 17, 2039
Stops and turns back on December 17 at 08:39, at 1°27' Virgo
Moves forward again on April 17, 2039 at 15:51, at 21°25' Leo
Saturn
from December 26, 2037 to May 11
Stops and turns back on December 26, 2037 at 11:36, at 16°14' Virgo
Moves forward again on May 11 at 07:21, at 9°23' Virgo
Uranus
from October 30, 2037 to March 28
Stops and turns back on October 30, 2037 at 01:59, at 24°11' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 28 at 05:26, at 20°05' Cancer
from November 3 to April 2, 2039
Stops and turns back on November 3 at 22:01, at 28°47' Cancer
Moves forward again on April 2, 2039 at 00:32, at 24°40' Cancer
Neptune
from August 1, 2037 to January 6
Stops and turns back on August 1, 2037 at 14:57, at 29°07' Aries
Moves forward again on January 6 at 05:31, at 26°18' Aries
from August 4 to January 8, 2039
Stops and turns back on August 4 at 02:58, at 1°22' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 8, 2039 at 16:59, at 28°33' Aries
Pluto
from May 25 to November 4
Stops and turns back on May 25 at 03:24, at 24°15' Aquarius
Moves forward again on November 4 at 20:16, at 21°55' Aquarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2038?
In 2038, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 18 to April 10, from July 21 to August 14, from November 12 to December 2. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2038?
Yes: from December 14, 2037 to January 24. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2038?
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).