Neptune turns retrograde at 0°53′ Sagittarius on Mar 3, 1970, 3:17 AM ET (1970-03-03 08:17 UTC) and direct at 28°07′ Scorpio on Aug 9, 1970, 9:56 PM ET (1970-08-10 01:56 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs, then shared money, secrets and emotional depth.
Shadow: Nov 12, 1969 – Nov 30, 1970.
What Neptune retrograde means
Neptune is associated with dreams, imagination, spirituality and blurred boundaries. Its retrograde lasts about five months every year. Astrologers describe it as a time when illusions are easier to see through and old ideals come back for review.
Retrograde motion is an optical effect: Earth and Neptune move at different speeds, so Neptune 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.
Neptune is retrograde once in 1970: Mar 3 – Aug 9 in Sagittarius and Scorpio.
How long is Neptune retrograde in 1970?
About 160 days in total during 1970; each retrograde lasts 160 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 383 days.
What is the Neptune retrograde shadow?
The pre-shadow starts when Neptune 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.
Why do Neptune retrograde dates differ by time zone?
A station is one instant worldwide, but its calendar date depends on the time zone. This calendar displays Eastern Time, including daylight-saving changes, and the event cards also show UTC. A station shortly after midnight UTC can fall on the previous date in the Americas. Compare full timestamps before concluding that two calendars disagree.
Is Neptune still retrograde during the post-shadow?
No. The retrograde phase ends at the direct station. During the post-shadow, Neptune moves direct through the degrees it covered while retrograde, until it passes the earlier retrograde-station longitude. The direct date and post-shadow end date describe different events.
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.