What Planets Are in Retrograde Right Now?
This live retrograde tracker shows which planets are retrograde today, when each one turns, and every retrograde and shadow period for the next 12 months.
Calculating the planets…
The Next 12 Months
Every retrograde and shadow period from this month forward. Hover over or tap a bar for its dates.
Dates and times are Eastern. A planet's shadow period starts when it first reaches the degree where its retrograde will end, and ends when it gets back to the degree where the retrograde began. Positions are calculated with Astronomy Engine using the tropical zodiac, and station times can differ from other sources by a few minutes because the planet is barely moving.
What Is a Retrograde Planet?
A retrograde planet is a planet that appears to move backward through the zodiac, as seen from Earth. The planet never actually reverses. This apparent retrograde motion happens when Earth and another planet pass each other in their orbits, the same way a slower car on the highway seems to slide backward as you pass it.
In astrology, a retrograde is a time to review, revisit and finish what a planet rules, rather than to start something new. Mercury retrograde is the best known, but every planet except the Sun and Moon goes retrograde on a regular schedule.
What Is a Retrograde Shadow Period?
The shadow period is the stretch before and after a retrograde when the planet crosses the same degrees it will retrace. The pre-retrograde shadow starts when the planet first reaches the degree where the retrograde will end. The post-retrograde shadow ends when the planet gets back to the degree where the retrograde began. Many astrologers say the retrograde's themes start to show up in the first shadow and wrap up in the second, which is why the tracker shows both in gold.
How Often Does Each Planet Go Retrograde?
Mercury goes retrograde most often, three or four times a year, while the outer planets spend about five months of every year retrograde.
| Planet | How often | How long it lasts | Commonly linked to |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☿︎ Mercury | 3 or 4 times a year | About 3 weeks | Communication, technology and travel |
| ♀︎ Venus | About every 19 months | About 6 weeks | Love, beauty and money |
| ♂︎ Mars | About every 26 months | About 2 to 3 months | Action, drive and anger |
| ♃︎ Jupiter | Once a year | About 4 months | Luck, growth and beliefs |
| ♄︎ Saturn | Once a year | About 4½ months | Responsibility, discipline and limits |
| ♅︎ Uranus | Once a year | About 5 months | Sudden change and innovation |
| ♆︎ Neptune | Once a year | About 5 months | Dreams, intuition and illusion |
| ♇︎ Pluto | Once a year | About 5 months | Power and transformation |
What to Do When Planets Are Retrograde
The most common advice is to review rather than launch. Retrogrades are good times to finish projects, reconnect with old friends, double-check details and revisit plans. Many people wait until a planet is direct, or out of its shadow, before signing contracts, making big purchases or starting something new in that planet's area of life.
- For Mercury, double-check messages, plans and travel. Our Mercury retrograde guide has the current dates and a ritual.
- For Venus, review relationships, spending and what you value. See the Venus retrograde guide.
- To see every planet's sign and degree for any moment, open today's astrology chart and press Play to watch the retrogrades happen.
Planets in Retrograde FAQ
Is Mercury in retrograde right now?
The line at the top of the tracker answers this live for today's date. In 2026, Mercury is retrograde from February 26 to March 20, June 29 to July 23, and October 24 to November 13.
What planets are in retrograde right now?
The tracker lists every planet that is retrograde today, plus any planet in a shadow period, and counts down to the next station. Pick another date to see the retrogrades on that day.
Can more than one planet be retrograde at the same time?
Yes. Because the outer planets are retrograde for about five months a year, four or five planets are often retrograde at once. From October 24 to November 13, 2026, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are all retrograde together.
Do the Sun and Moon go retrograde?
No. The Sun and Moon never appear to move backward through the zodiac, so they are never retrograde.
How long does Mercury retrograde last?
Mercury retrograde lasts about three weeks. With the shadow periods before and after, the whole cycle runs about two months.
What is a planet stationing?
A planet is stationing when it appears to stand still just before it turns retrograde or direct. Astrologers often say a planet's themes feel strongest around its station, so the tracker marks a planet as stationing in the days around each turn.
Is a retrograde bad?
A retrograde is not bad, but it slows things down in that planet's area of life. Most astrologers treat it as a time to review, repair and reflect.
How accurate are these dates?
The dates are calculated from planet positions with Astronomy Engine, using the tropical zodiac and Eastern Time. Station times can differ from other sources by a few minutes because the planet is barely moving at a station.