Neptune turns retrograde at 0°56′ Pisces on Jun 3, 2011, 3:37 AM ET (2011-06-03 07:37 UTC) and direct at 28°09′ Aquarius on Nov 9, 2011, 2:01 PM ET (2011-11-09 19:01 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to intuition, dreams and endings, then friends, groups and future goals.
Shadow: Feb 10, 2011 – Feb 28, 2012.
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 2011: Jun 3 – Nov 9 in Pisces and Aquarius.
How long is Neptune retrograde in 2011?
About 159 days in total during 2011; each retrograde lasts 159 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 382 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.