Retrogrades › Mars › 2016
Mars is retrograde once in 2016: Apr 17 – Jun 29 in Sagittarius and Scorpio.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2016 | Apr 17, 2016, 8:16 AM ET | Jun 29, 2016, 7:40 PM ET | Aug 22, 2016 | 8°54′ ♐︎ Sagittarius → ♏︎ Scorpio 23°04′ |
Apr 17, 2016 – Jun 29, 2016 · 73 days
Mars turns retrograde at 8°54′ Sagittarius on Apr 17, 2016, 8:16 AM ET (2016-04-17 12:16 UTC) and direct at 23°04′ Scorpio on Jun 29, 2016, 7:40 PM ET (2016-06-29 23:40 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs, then shared money, secrets and emotional depth.
Shadow: Feb 17, 2016 – Aug 22, 2016.
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 2016 · Jupiter retrograde 2016 · Saturn retrograde 2016 · All planets now
Mars is retrograde once in 2016: Apr 17 – Jun 29 in Sagittarius and Scorpio.
About 73 days in total during 2016; each retrograde lasts 73 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 186 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.