Retrogrades › Saturn › 1978
Saturn is retrograde once in 1978: Dec 24 – May 9 in Virgo.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 7, 1977 | Dec 11, 1977, 7:06 AM ET | Apr 25, 1978, 7:18 AM ET | Jul 30, 1978 | 0°33′ ♍︎ Virgo → ♌︎ Leo 23°39′ |
| Sep 21, 1978 | Dec 24, 1978, 4:11 PM ET | May 9, 1979, 10:53 AM ET | Aug 14, 1979 | 13°56′ ♍︎ Virgo 7°04′ |
Dec 11, 1977 – Apr 25, 1978 · 135 days
Saturn turns retrograde at 0°33′ Virgo on Dec 11, 1977, 7:06 AM ET (1977-12-11 12:06 UTC) and direct at 23°39′ Leo on Apr 25, 1978, 7:18 AM ET (1978-04-25 12:18 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details, then creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Sep 7, 1977 – Jul 30, 1978.
Dec 24, 1978 – May 9, 1979 · 136 days
Saturn turns retrograde at 13°56′ Virgo on Dec 24, 1978, 4:11 PM ET (1978-12-24 21:11 UTC) and direct at 7°04′ Virgo on May 9, 1979, 10:53 AM ET (1979-05-09 14:53 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Sep 21, 1978 – Aug 14, 1979.
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 1978 · Venus retrograde 1978 · Mars retrograde 1978 · Jupiter retrograde 1978 · All planets now
Saturn is retrograde once in 1978: Dec 24 – May 9 in Virgo. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Dec 11, 1977, ending Apr 25, 1978.
About 122 days in total during 1978; each retrograde lasts 136 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 327 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.