Astrool Retrograde
When a planet appears, from Earth, to move backwards through the zodiac. It is an optical effect, and astrology reads it as a turning inward.
Why planets go retrograde
Earth and the other planets orbit the Sun at different speeds. When Earth overtakes an outer planet, or an inner planet overtakes Earth, the other planet appears to slow, stop (station) and move backward against the stars for a while. Nothing actually reverses. In an ephemeris and in Astrool, retrograde is marked R or ℞.
How often
| Planet | Retrograde roughly |
|---|---|
| Mercury | 3 times a year for about 3 weeks |
| Venus | Every 18 months for about 6 weeks |
| Mars | Every 2 years for about 2.5 months |
| Jupiter to Pluto | Every year for 4 to 5 months |
In a birth chart
A planet retrograde at birth turns its themes inward. They tend to develop privately and often open up fully in adulthood. It is not a bad sign; many accomplished people have several.
In transits
A transiting retrograde is read as a time to review, revise and return. Mercury retrograde, the famous one, is traditionally linked to miscommunication and delays. See today's retrogrades in cosmic weather.
See it in your own chart
Astrool calculates your full birth chart, not just your sun sign, and writes your daily, weekly and monthly readings against it.
Common questions
Can the Sun or Moon be retrograde?
No. Seen from Earth, the Sun and Moon always move forward.
Is Mercury retrograde bad?
It is a reminder to double-check, revisit and slow down, not a reason to fear the calendar.