Live Retrograde Tracker
Track which planets are currently in retrograde motion and discover how their reversed energy impacts your daily life.
Scanning the cosmos...
What is a Retrograde Planet?
A retrograde planet appears to move backwards in the sky from our perspective on Earth. This is an optical illusion caused by the differing orbital speeds of the planets around the Sun, similar to how a slower car seems to move backward when you pass it on the highway. However, in astrology, this optical illusion carries immense energy. When a planet goes retrograde, its external, outward-facing energy turns inward.
Our Retrograde Tracker uses live our proprietary astronomical engine mathematical models to check the exact current speed of every major planet. If the speed registers as a negative number, the planet is officially in retrograde. This allows you to see the exact current status of the solar system in real time, without needing to check monthly horoscopes.
How Retrogrades Impact Your Life
Direct planets push events forward. Retrograde planets stall events, forcing you to review, redo, and reconsider. Each planet rules different areas of life, so a retrograde impacts you differently depending on which planet is moving backward.
Mercury Retrograde
Mercury rules communication, technology, and travel. It goes retrograde three to four times a year.
What to avoid: Signing contracts, buying laptops or phones, launching a new website, or starting a new job.
Venus Retrograde
Venus rules love, beauty, and money. It goes retrograde every 18 months for about 40 days.
What to avoid: Getting married, moving in with a partner, making large investments, or changing your physical appearance drastically.
Mars Retrograde
Mars rules physical energy, action, and war. It goes retrograde every two years for about two months.
What to avoid: Starting a new workout routine, picking fights, filing lawsuits, or launching a highly competitive product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are retrograde planets always bad?
No. Retrogrades are excellent for finishing old projects that you abandoned. If you owe money, a retrograde is a good time to pay it back. If you need to revise a book or fix bugs in code, Mercury retrograde is actually the best time to do it.
Why do exes return during Venus retrograde?
Venus rules relationships. When its energy moves backward, it pulls up unresolved issues from the past. Ex-partners often reappear so you can finally get closure, not necessarily so you can get back together.
What happens if I was born during a retrograde?
If a planet is retrograde in your birth chart, you process the energy of that planet internally. For example, if you are born with Mercury retrograde, you might struggle to speak your thoughts aloud, but you are likely a brilliant writer. When that same planet goes retrograde in the sky, you actually feel more comfortable than everyone else.
Do the Sun and Moon ever go retrograde?
No. The Sun and Moon, known as the luminaries, always move forward in direct motion. Rahu and Ketu (the shadow planets) are the opposite—they are always in retrograde motion.