Mercury retrograde dates in 2026
Is Mercury retrograde right now? Yes. On November 12, 2026 Mercury is in retrograde motion, until November 13.
| Turns retrograde | Turns direct | Days | From | Back to | Constellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 22.6° Pisces | 8.5° Pisces | Pisces, then Aquarius | ||
| 24 | 26.3° Cancer | 16.3° Cancer | Gemini | ||
| 20 | 21.0° Scorpio | 5.0° Scorpio | Libra, then Virgo |
Dates are in Universal Time. "From" and "Back to" give the ecliptic longitude of Mercury at the two turning points, in the tropical zodiac (30° signs counted from the vernal equinox). The constellation is the one Mercury is actually in front of, which no longer matches the sign because of precession.
Each retrograde period, step by step
Mercury crosses the same stretch of sky three times: forward, backward, then forward again. It enters that stretch two to three weeks before it turns retrograde and leaves it two to three weeks after it turns direct. Astrologers call these two intervals the shadow periods. In the middle, Mercury passes between Earth and the Sun (inferior conjunction).
| Enters the zone | Turns retrograde | Inferior conjunction | Turns direct | Leaves the zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 11 | February 26 | March 7 | March 20 | April 9 |
| June 13 | June 29 | July 13 | July 23 | August 7 |
| October 4 | October 24 | November 4 | November 13 | November 30 |
Every planet in retrograde in 2026
The outer planets turn retrograde once a year, around their opposition, when Earth overtakes them. Mars does not turn retrograde in 2026.
| Planet | Turns retrograde | Turns direct | Days | Constellation | In the middle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uranus | 151 | Taurus | Opposition, November 21, 2025 | ||
| Jupiter | 119 | Gemini | Opposition, January 10 | ||
| Mercury | 23 | Pisces, then Aquarius | Inferior conjunction, March 7 | ||
| Mercury | 24 | Gemini | Inferior conjunction, July 13 | ||
| Neptune | 158 | Pisces | Opposition, September 26 | ||
| Saturn | 137 | Pisces | Opposition, October 4 | ||
| Uranus | 151 | Taurus | Opposition, November 25 | ||
| Venus | 42 | Libra, then Virgo | Inferior conjunction, October 24 | ||
| Mercury | 20 | Libra, then Virgo | Inferior conjunction, November 4 | ||
| Jupiter | 121 | Leo, then Cancer | Opposition, February 11, 2027 |
What retrograde motion is
Seen from Earth, the planets normally drift eastward against the stars, in the direction of their orbit. Retrograde motion is the interval when a planet appears to drift westward instead. Nothing changes in its orbit: it is an effect of perspective between two worlds moving at different speeds around the Sun.
Mercury is the fastest planet. Every 116 days, its synodic period, it catches up with Earth and passes between us and the Sun. For about three weeks around that passage, as it overtakes us on the inside, it slides backward in front of the stars. That happens three times in most years, four in some.
You can watch it happen: in the 3D heliocentric view, press Play and watch Mercury overtake Earth on the inside.
How these dates are computed
The position of Mercury comes from the VSOP87 theory as given in Jean Meeus' Astronomical Algorithms, corrected for the time its light takes to reach Earth. A period begins and ends on the two days when the geocentric ecliptic longitude stops changing: the stations. Because the planet is almost motionless there, the instant is only defined to within a few hours, and the dates are given to the day.
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2026?
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2026: February 26 to March 20, June 29 to July 23 and October 24 to November 13. Dates are in Universal Time.
Is Mercury retrograde right now?
Yes. On November 12, 2026 Mercury is in retrograde motion, until November 13.
Which planets are retrograde in 2026?
Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn and Venus. Mars is not retrograde at any time in 2026. The table on this page gives the first and last day of each period.
Does Mercury really move backwards?
No. Mercury always orbits the Sun in the same direction. About every 116 days it passes between Earth and the Sun, and for some three weeks its faster motion makes it drift westward against the background stars as seen from Earth, the way a car you overtake seems to move backwards.