Gochar · Retrograde
Retrograde Calendar
Which planets go retrograde and when they turn direct across the coming months. Precise astronomical calculation; no birth details needed.
| Planet | Retrograde begins | Turns direct |
|---|---|---|
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FAQ
Questions about retrograde planets
Do planets actually move backward?
No planet truly reverses course. When Earth overtakes a slower outer planet in its own orbit, that planet appears, from Earth, to drift backward across the sky for a while. It's an optical effect of relative motion, not an actual change in direction.
Why do Rahu and Ketu always show as retrograde?
Rahu and Ketu aren't physical planets, they're the points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic. Those points always drift backward, so they're conventionally treated as permanently retrograde.
How often does each planet turn retrograde?
Mercury turns retrograde three or four times a year, Venus roughly once every eighteen months, Mars about once every two years, and Jupiter and Saturn each about once a year, for several months at a stretch.