Retrogrades › Mars › 1988
Mars is retrograde once in 1988: Aug 26 – Oct 28 in Aries and Pisces.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 1988 | Aug 26, 1988, 10:39 AM ET | Oct 28, 1988, 1:08 AM ET | Dec 13, 1988 | 11°28′ ♈︎ Aries → ♓︎ Pisces 29°53′ |
Aug 26, 1988 – Oct 28, 1988 · 63 days
Mars turns retrograde at 11°28′ Aries on Aug 26, 1988, 10:39 AM ET (1988-08-26 14:39 UTC) and direct at 29°53′ Pisces on Oct 28, 1988, 1:08 AM ET (1988-10-28 05:08 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to impulsive decisions, independence and new starts, then intuition, dreams and endings.
Shadow: Jul 13, 1988 – Dec 13, 1988.
Mars rules drive, conflict and physical energy. Its retrograde, about every 26 months, is associated with stalled projects, frustration and old conflicts resurfacing — a time to rethink strategy rather than force progress.
Retrograde motion is an optical effect: Earth and Mars move at different speeds, so Mars appears to drift backward against the stars for a while. Our dates are station times — when the apparent motion reverses — calculated with Astronomy Engine; see the methodology.
Same year: Mercury retrograde 1988 · Venus retrograde 1988 · Jupiter retrograde 1988 · Saturn retrograde 1988 · All planets now
Mars is retrograde once in 1988: Aug 26 – Oct 28 in Aries and Pisces.
About 63 days in total during 1988; each retrograde lasts 63 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 153 days.
The pre-shadow starts when Mars first reaches the degree where it will turn direct; the post-shadow ends when it passes the degree where it turned retrograde. The dates are in the table above.
Astrology is a symbolic and cultural tradition. The planetary positions on this site are calculated with astronomical accuracy; the interpretations describe what astrologers associate with them and are not scientifically validated predictions about personality, relationships or the future.