Retrogrades › Saturn › 2008
Saturn is retrograde once in 2008: Dec 31 – May 16 in Virgo.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2007 | Dec 19, 2007, 9:10 AM ET | May 2, 2008, 11:05 PM ET | Aug 7, 2008 | 8°34′ ♍︎ Virgo 1°41′ |
| Sep 27, 2008 | Dec 31, 2008, 1:05 PM ET | May 16, 2009, 10:07 PM ET | Aug 22, 2009 | 21°46′ ♍︎ Virgo 14°55′ |
Dec 19, 2007 – May 2, 2008 · 136 days
Saturn turns retrograde at 8°34′ Virgo on Dec 19, 2007, 9:10 AM ET (2007-12-19 14:10 UTC) and direct at 1°41′ Virgo on May 2, 2008, 11:05 PM ET (2008-05-03 03:05 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Sep 15, 2007 – Aug 7, 2008.
Dec 31, 2008 – May 16, 2009 · 136 days
Saturn turns retrograde at 21°46′ Virgo on Dec 31, 2008, 1:05 PM ET (2008-12-31 18:05 UTC) and direct at 14°55′ Virgo on May 16, 2009, 10:07 PM ET (2009-05-17 02:07 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Sep 27, 2008 – Aug 22, 2009.
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 2008 · Mars retrograde 2008 · Jupiter retrograde 2008 · All planets now
Saturn is retrograde once in 2008: Dec 31 – May 16 in Virgo. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Dec 19, 2007, ending May 2, 2008.
About 123 days in total during 2008; each retrograde lasts 136 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.