from February 12 to March 5
Stops and turns back on February 12 at 13:38, at 8°37' Pisces
Moves forward again on March 5 at 11:19, at 23°41' Aquarius
Shadow: from January 28 to March 25; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2040
In 2040, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 12 to March 5, from June 13 to July 7, from October 9 to October 30. Venus does not go retrograde this year. Mars: from November 23, 2039 to February 9. London time.
Mercury
from June 13 to July 7
Stops and turns back on June 13 at 01:19, at 9°32' Cancer
Moves forward again on July 7 at 03:21, at 0°31' Cancer
Shadow: from May 28 to July 21; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from October 9 to October 30
Stops and turns back on October 9 at 13:05, at 7°31' Scorpio
Moves forward again on October 30 at 09:05, at 21°51' Libra
Shadow: from September 19 to November 15; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
No retrograde this year.
Mars
from November 23, 2039 to February 9
Stops and turns back on November 23, 2039 at 20:47, at 21°45' Cancer
Moves forward again on February 9 at 11:48, at 3°01' Cancer
Shadow: from September 24, 2039 to April 15; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Jupiter
from January 16 to May 18
Stops and turns back on January 16 at 13:17, at 1°50' Libra
Moves forward again on May 18 at 04:57, at 21°52' Virgo
Saturn
from January 21 to June 6
Stops and turns back on January 21 at 04:12, at 12°01' Libra
Moves forward again on June 6 at 18:54, at 5°14' Libra
Uranus
from November 8, 2039 to April 5
Stops and turns back on November 8, 2039 at 21:04, at 3°25' Leo
Moves forward again on April 5 at 22:43, at 29°17' Cancer
from November 12 to April 10, 2041
Stops and turns back on November 12 at 17:53, at 8°04' Leo
Moves forward again on April 10, 2041 at 20:05, at 3°56' Leo
Neptune
from August 6, 2039 to January 11
Stops and turns back on August 6, 2039 at 16:59, at 3°37' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 11 at 05:08, at 0°48' Taurus
from August 8 to January 12, 2041
Stops and turns back on August 8 at 06:25, at 5°52' Taurus
Moves forward again on January 12, 2041 at 16:36, at 3°03' Taurus
Pluto
from May 27 to November 7
Stops and turns back on May 27 at 14:19, at 27°07' Aquarius
Moves forward again on November 7 at 06:08, at 24°49' Aquarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2040?
In 2040, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 12 to March 5, from June 13 to July 7, from October 9 to October 30. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2040?
Venus does not go retrograde this year.
Is Mars retrograde in 2040?
Yes: from November 23, 2039 to February 9. 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).