from March 1 to March 23
Stops and turns back on March 1 at 04:11, at 25°15' Pisces
Moves forward again on March 23 at 19:19, at 11°21' Pisces
Shadow: from February 14 to April 12; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2039
In 2039, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 1 to March 23, from July 2 to July 27, from October 27 to November 16. Venus: from July 18 to August 30. Mars: from November 23 to February 9, 2040. London time.
Mercury
from July 2 to July 27
Stops and turns back on July 2 at 22:47, at 29°22' Cancer
Moves forward again on July 27 at 04:06, at 19°14' Cancer
Shadow: from June 16 to August 10; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from October 27 to November 16
Stops and turns back on October 27 at 04:54, at 23°32' Scorpio
Moves forward again on November 16 at 10:38, at 7°33' Scorpio
Shadow: from October 7 to December 3; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from July 18 to August 30
Stops and turns back on July 18 at 09:35, at 24°15' Leo
Moves forward again on August 30 at 11:14, at 7°50' Leo
Shadow: from June 14 to October 2; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
from November 23 to February 9, 2040
Stops and turns back on November 23 at 20:47, at 21°45' Cancer
Moves forward again on February 9, 2040 at 11:48, at 3°01' Cancer
Shadow: from September 24 to April 15, 2040; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Jupiter
from December 17, 2038 to April 17
Stops and turns back on December 17, 2038 at 08:39, at 1°27' Virgo
Moves forward again on April 17 at 15:51, at 21°25' Leo
Saturn
from January 8 to May 25
Stops and turns back on January 8 at 11:55, at 29°17' Virgo
Moves forward again on May 25 at 04:05, at 22°28' Virgo
Uranus
from November 3, 2038 to April 2
Stops and turns back on November 3, 2038 at 22:01, at 28°47' Cancer
Moves forward again on April 2 at 00:32, at 24°40' Cancer
from November 8 to April 5, 2040
Stops and turns back on November 8 at 21:04, at 3°25' Leo
Moves forward again on April 5, 2040 at 22:43, at 29°17' Cancer
Neptune
from August 4, 2038 to January 8
Stops and turns back on August 4, 2038 at 02:58, at 1°22' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 8 at 16:59, at 28°33' Aries
from August 6 to January 11, 2040
Stops and turns back on August 6 at 16:59, at 3°37' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 11, 2040 at 05:08, at 0°48' Taurus
Pluto
from May 26 to November 6
Stops and turns back on May 26 at 20:20, at 25°41' Aquarius
Moves forward again on November 6 at 13:54, at 23°23' Aquarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2039?
In 2039, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from March 1 to March 23, from July 2 to July 27, from October 27 to November 16. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2039?
Yes: from July 18 to August 30. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2039?
Yes: from November 23 to February 9, 2040. 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).