↺ Retrograde Planets
Find out which planets are retrograde right now, when the retrograde ends and when it starts again. For the chosen year you get a full retrograde calendar for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The calculation runs in your browser, no sign-up needed.

Retrograde planets by date

Find out which planets are retrograde right now, when the retrograde ends and when it starts again. For the chosen year you get a full retrograde calendar for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The calculation runs in your browser, no sign-up needed.

Key concepts

↺ Retrograde motion
A planet appears to move “backward” across the sky (from west to east). This is an illusion of perspective, not a real reversal of motion.
→ Direct motion
The planet's normal apparent motion against the stars, from east to west. Most of the time all planets move this way.
⏸ Station
The day a planet stops and changes direction in the sky: the start or end of retrograde.
♃ Outer planets
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are retrograde around opposition, when Earth overtakes them.

How to use

  1. Pick a date to see which planets are retrograde right now
  2. For each planet, you see when its retrograde ends or when the next one begins
  3. Below is the retrograde calendar for all planets for the year of the chosen date
  4. The ‹ and › buttons move one day back or forward, “Now” returns to the current moment

FAQ

What is retrograde motion of a planet?
It is the apparent backward motion of a planet against the stars: for a while it drifts not from west to east, as usual, but the other way round. It is an optical effect caused by the different orbital speeds of Earth and the planet.
How often is Mercury retrograde?
Usually three to four times a year, each time for about three weeks. The other planets are retrograde less often but for longer: Mars about once every two years, Jupiter and Saturn once a year for 4–5 months.
Does a planet really move backward?
No. All planets orbit the Sun in the same direction. Retrograde motion is only seen from Earth, when we “overtake” an outer planet or an inner planet overtakes us.
What is a planetary station?
A station is the moment when a planet's apparent motion in the sky changes direction: the start of retrograde (direct → retrograde) or its end (retrograde → direct). On these days the planet is almost stationary against the stars.
How accurate are the calculations?
Planet positions are computed from JPL approximate orbital elements (valid for 1800–2050). Station dates are accurate to about one day.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. All calculations run in your browser.