Retrograde Motion of Planets in 2017: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto

Retrograde motion of a planet is its apparent backward motion through the sky, as observed from Earth. This apparent retrograde motion is caused by the Earth traveling past a slower-moving outer planet (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and also Pluto, even if from 2006 Pluto is considered a dwarf planet) or when the Earth is itself passed by a faster-moving inner planet (Mercury, Venus or Mars).

So, this is like the apparent motion of the slower car on the highway – an optical illusion. But it is important, from our perspective: we live on Earth and we judge things from an earthly perspective.

Some astrologers consider this apparent backward movement of the planets was to be unlucky, because it goes against the natural order of movement – the direct movement. But a retrograde planet is not necessarily something bad – actually, it is a chance to recognize, understand and correct past mistakes.

Retrograde Planets in 2017

Mercury retrograde in Capricorn and Sagittarius: December 19^th,2016 – January 8th, 2017

Mercury retrograde in Taurus and Aries: April 9^th – May, 3^rd

Mercury retrograde in Virgo and Leo: August, 12^th – September, 6^th

Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius: December, 3^rd – December 22^nd

Venus retrograde in Aries and Pisces: March 4^th – April 15^th

Jupiter retrograde in Libra: February, 6^th – June, 9^th

Saturn retrograde in Sagittarius: April 5^th – August, 25^th

Uranus retrograde in Aries: August 2^nd, 2017 – January, 2^nd, 2018

Neptune retrograde in Pisces: June, 16^th – November, 22^nd

Pluto retrograde in Capricorn: April, 20^th – September, 28^th