Retrogrades › Saturn › 1997
Saturn is retrograde once in 1997: Aug 1 – Dec 16 in Aries.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1997 | Aug 1, 1997, 1:03 PM ET | Dec 16, 1997, 5:26 AM ET | Mar 20, 1998 | 20°22′ ♈︎ Aries 13°32′ |
Aug 1, 1997 – Dec 16, 1997 · 137 days
Saturn turns retrograde at 20°22′ Aries on Aug 1, 1997, 1:03 PM ET (1997-08-01 17:03 UTC) and direct at 13°32′ Aries on Dec 16, 1997, 5:26 AM ET (1997-12-16 10:26 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Apr 26, 1997 – Mar 20, 1998.
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 1997 · Venus retrograde 1997 · Mars retrograde 1997 · Jupiter retrograde 1997 · All planets now
Saturn is retrograde once in 1997: Aug 1 – Dec 16 in Aries.
About 137 days in total during 1997; each retrograde lasts 137 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 328 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.