Retrogrades › Saturn › 1973
Saturn is retrograde once in 1973: Oct 17 – Feb 27 in Cancer and Gemini.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 28, 1972 | Oct 2, 1972, 12:33 PM ET | Feb 13, 1973, 7:59 AM ET | May 18, 1973 | 20°36′ ♊︎ Gemini 13°38′ |
| Jul 13, 1973 | Oct 17, 1973, 1:39 AM ET | Feb 27, 1974, 5:11 PM ET | Jun 2, 1974 | 4°45′ ♋︎ Cancer → ♊︎ Gemini 27°47′ |
Oct 2, 1972 – Feb 13, 1973 · 134 days
Saturn turns retrograde at 20°36′ Gemini on Oct 2, 1972, 12:33 PM ET (1972-10-02 16:33 UTC) and direct at 13°38′ Gemini on Feb 13, 1973, 7:59 AM ET (1973-02-13 12:59 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to everyday communication, siblings and short trips.
Shadow: Jun 28, 1972 – May 18, 1973.
Oct 17, 1973 – Feb 27, 1974 · 134 days
Saturn turns retrograde at 4°45′ Cancer on Oct 17, 1973, 1:39 AM ET (1973-10-17 05:39 UTC) and direct at 27°47′ Gemini on Feb 27, 1974, 5:11 PM ET (1974-02-27 21:11 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to home, family and old memories, then everyday communication, siblings and short trips.
Shadow: Jul 13, 1973 – Jun 2, 1974.
Saturn rules structure, duty, limits and long-term commitments. It is retrograde for about four and a half months every year; astrologers read this as a time to review responsibilities and foundations, and to finish what was started before taking on more.
Retrograde motion is an optical effect: Earth and Saturn move at different speeds, so Saturn 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 1973 · Mars retrograde 1973 · Jupiter retrograde 1973 · All planets now
Saturn is retrograde once in 1973: Oct 17 – Feb 27 in Cancer and Gemini. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Oct 2, 1972, ending Feb 13, 1973.
About 119 days in total during 1973; each retrograde lasts 134 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 324 days.
The pre-shadow starts when Saturn 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.