Retrogrades › Mars › 2018
Mars is retrograde once in 2018: Jun 26 – Aug 27 in Aquarius and Capricorn.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2018 | Jun 26, 2018, 5:12 PM ET | Aug 27, 2018, 10:01 AM ET | Oct 8, 2018 | 9°13′ ♒︎ Aquarius → ♑︎ Capricorn 28°37′ |
Jun 26, 2018 – Aug 27, 2018 · 62 days
Mars turns retrograde at 9°13′ Aquarius on Jun 26, 2018, 5:12 PM ET (2018-06-26 21:12 UTC) and direct at 28°37′ Capricorn on Aug 27, 2018, 10:01 AM ET (2018-08-27 14:01 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals, then career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: May 12, 2018 – Oct 8, 2018.
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 2018 · Venus retrograde 2018 · Jupiter retrograde 2018 · Saturn retrograde 2018 · All planets now
Mars is retrograde once in 2018: Jun 26 – Aug 27 in Aquarius and Capricorn.
About 62 days in total during 2018; each retrograde lasts 62 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 149 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.