Neptune turns retrograde at 1°25′ Capricorn on Apr 2, 1984, 9:25 AM ET (1984-04-02 14:25 UTC) and direct at 28°39′ Sagittarius on Sep 9, 1984, 6:04 PM ET (1984-09-09 22:04 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans, then travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Dec 13, 1983 – Dec 30, 1984.
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 1984: Apr 2 – Sep 9 in Capricorn and Sagittarius.
How long is Neptune retrograde in 1984?
About 160 days in total during 1984; 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.