Retrograde Calendar
Real published Mercury, Venus, and Mars retrograde windows — when each one starts, ends, and where things stand today.
Not retrograde yet — starts in 87 days.
October 24, 2026 – November 13, 2026
Not retrograde yet — starts in 66 days.
October 3, 2026 – November 13, 2026
Not retrograde yet — starts in 165 days.
January 10, 2027 – April 1, 2027
The backward motion itself is a real, observable astronomical effect — an optical illusion from orbital speed differences, not a guess. What it supposedly does to communication, travel, or relationships is folk tradition, not a scientifically supported claim.
Yes — it's an optical illusion caused by the relative orbital speeds of Earth and the other planet, not a fabricated concept. Its supposed effects on communication, travel, or relationships are folk tradition, not a scientifically supported claim.
Mercury retrogrades about 3 times a year for roughly 3 weeks each. Venus retrogrades once every ~18 months for about 40 days. Mars retrogrades once every ~2 years for about 2-2.5 months — real orbital periods, not the same schedule for every planet.
Because its ~780-day synodic cycle doesn't line up with the calendar year — Mars's next retrograde starts January 10, 2027. Synastri states that plainly instead of inventing a 2026 date to fill the gap.