Retrograde Shadow Period

SR means Stationary Retrograde SD means Stationary Direct SA means Shadow Area Times listed are in Greenwich Mean Time Mercury: SA Jan 20 - Mar 18 SR Feb 4, 1:52 SD Feb 25, 15:36 SA May 20 - July 12 SR Jun 4, 5:17 SD Jun 28, 5:45 SA Sep 12 - Nov 7 SR Oct 1, 19:18 SD Oct 23, 0:18 0 Pisces 15 Aquarius 29 Gemini 21 Gemini 29 Libra 14 Libra Venus: SA Feb 3 - May 23 SR Mar 9, 1:05 SD Apr 20, 4:33 17 Aries 1 Aries Mars: SA Mar 18 - Sep 8 SR May 11, 15:57 SD Jul 19, 22:50 29 Sagittarius 15 Sagittarius Jupiter: SD Jan 25, 8:19 SR Nov 2, 14:38 1 Gemini 15 Cancer Saturn: SD Jan 24, 23:48 SR Sep 26, 22:25 24 Taurus 14 Gemini Uranus: SR May 29, 11:30 SD Oct 30, 20:30 24 Aquarius 20 Aquarius Neptune: SR May 10, 18:15 SD Oct 17, 22:44 8 Aquarius 6 Aquarius Pluto: SR Mar 17, 20:30 SD August 23, 12:39 15 Sagittarius 12 Sagittarius For more about retrogrades, click here. Retrogradation is an optical illusion, based on the Earth's relationship with the Sun and another planet. From the Earth's perspective, the planet appears to be going backward in the sky, retracing its steps. In fact, it covers the same small area of the sky three times: first in direct motion, then in retrograde motion and then in direct motion again. Many astrologers pay attention only to the actual retrograde period. However, the planet is in the "shadow area" as soon as it reaches the point where it will turn direct after the retrograde period. It stays in the "shadow area" until it passes the point where it turned retrograde. The "shadow period" tells us how long it takes for the planet to cover this small area of the Zodiac all three times.