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199 retrograde periods, 1900–2100

Neptune Retrograde Dates

Neptune runs backward for well over five months of every year, each loop a couple of degrees along from the last. Every station, 1900 to 2100.

As of Sep 8, 2026, Neptune is retrograde.

It turned retrograde on at 4°25′ Aries and goes direct again on at 1°36′ Aries, 158 days later.

Highlighted in the table: the period happening now

Neptune retrograde calendar

Neptune moves a little over two degrees a year, so its retrograde is almost entirely Earth's doing: 42.9% of the time, about once a year, 158 days, a loop of under three degrees. The 199 periods in the archive keep time like a clock, the shortest 156 days and the longest 160. Because the loops overlap, a search with a two-degree orb in Cycle Lab picks up Neptune stations from consecutive years. That is the planet, not a bug.

Each row runs from the station where Neptune appears to stop and turn back to the one where it turns forward again. These near-term tables are solved from the ephemeris to the second and shown as UTC calendar dates with the degree at each station. An almanac working in local time can put a station a day either side.

2026 Neptune retrograde dates

Neptune retrograde and direct station dates for 2026, with the zodiac sign of each station and the number of days between them.
Goes retrograde Turns direct Duration
4°25′ Aries Happening now 1°36′ Aries 158 days

2027 Neptune retrograde dates

Neptune retrograde and direct station dates for 2027, with the zodiac sign of each station and the number of days between them.
Goes retrograde Turns direct Duration
6°39′ Aries 3°51′ Aries 158 days

2028 Neptune retrograde dates

Neptune retrograde and direct station dates for 2028, with the zodiac sign of each station and the number of days between them.
Goes retrograde Turns direct Duration
8°54′ Aries 6°05′ Aries 158 days
Past dates (2025)

2025 Neptune retrograde dates

Neptune retrograde and direct station dates for 2025, with the zodiac sign of each station and the number of days between them.
Goes retrograde Turns direct Duration
2°10′ Aries 29°22′ Pisces 159 days

How often Neptune is retrograde

Every figure here is measured from the 199 complete periods between 1900 and 2100. Nothing is quoted from a reference book or rounded to the month, which is where most retrograde tables start to drift.

Share of the time
42.9%
of all days between 1900 and 2100
Typical length
158 days
median period; the mean is 158 days
Shortest to longest
156–160 days
across every catalogued period
How often
About once a year
199 periods in 201 years

A photograph resolving: that is how people describe Neptune retrograde when they describe it at all, less disillusion than focus. Astrologers give Neptune the fog, longing, faith, the thing you cannot quite name, and say that when it runs backward the fog thins for a while and you get a look at what it was covering. Neptune sits in one sign for about fourteen years, so a natal Neptune retrograde is shared with everyone born in the same half of the same year, and astrologers weigh it accordingly.

Birthdays fall on retrograde days as often as on any other, so the share above is also, near enough, the share of birth charts with Neptune retrograde. The natal retrograde calculator checks a date against the same stations.

Every Neptune retrograde, 1900–2100

All 199 periods, by decade. Each degree links to the Cycle Lab query for that point of the zodiac, so you can see what else has ever stood there.

1900s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1900s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
29°15′ Gemini 26°26′ Gemini 157
1°29′ Cancer 28°40′ Gemini 156
3°43′ Cancer 0°54′ Cancer 156
5°57′ Cancer 3°08′ Cancer 156
8°11′ Cancer 5°22′ Cancer 156
10°25′ Cancer 7°36′ Cancer 156
12°39′ Cancer 9°50′ Cancer 156
14°53′ Cancer 12°04′ Cancer 156
17°07′ Cancer 14°18′ Cancer 156
19°21′ Cancer 16°32′ Cancer 156
1910s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1910s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
21°34′ Cancer 18°46′ Cancer 156
23°48′ Cancer 20°59′ Cancer 157
26°01′ Cancer 23°12′ Cancer 157
28°14′ Cancer 25°25′ Cancer 157
0°27′ Leo 27°39′ Cancer 157
2°40′ Leo 29°52′ Cancer 157
4°54′ Leo 2°05′ Leo 157
7°06′ Leo 4°18′ Leo 157
9°19′ Leo 6°31′ Leo 157
11°33′ Leo 8°45′ Leo 157
1920s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1920s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
13°46′ Leo 10°57′ Leo 157
15°58′ Leo 13°10′ Leo 157
18°11′ Leo 15°23′ Leo 157
20°23′ Leo 17°35′ Leo 157
22°36′ Leo 19°48′ Leo 157
24°48′ Leo 22°00′ Leo 157
26°59′ Leo 24°11′ Leo 157
29°11′ Leo 26°23′ Leo 157
1°23′ Virgo 28°35′ Leo 157
3°35′ Virgo 0°47′ Virgo 157
1930s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1930s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
5°47′ Virgo 3°00′ Virgo 157
7°59′ Virgo 5°12′ Virgo 157
10°11′ Virgo 7°24′ Virgo 157
12°23′ Virgo 9°36′ Virgo 157
14°35′ Virgo 11°48′ Virgo 158
16°46′ Virgo 13°59′ Virgo 158
18°58′ Virgo 16°10′ Virgo 158
21°09′ Virgo 18°21′ Virgo 158
23°20′ Virgo 20°32′ Virgo 158
25°31′ Virgo 22°43′ Virgo 158
1940s (9 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1940s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
27°42′ Virgo 24°54′ Virgo 158
29°52′ Virgo 27°05′ Virgo 158
2°03′ Libra 29°16′ Virgo 158
4°15′ Libra 1°27′ Libra 158
6°25′ Libra 3°39′ Libra 158
8°37′ Libra 5°50′ Libra 158
10°48′ Libra 8°01′ Libra 158
12°59′ Libra 10°12′ Libra 158
15°10′ Libra 12°23′ Libra 158
1950s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1950s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
17°21′ Libra 14°34′ Libra 159
19°31′ Libra 16°45′ Libra 159
21°42′ Libra 18°55′ Libra 159
23°53′ Libra 21°06′ Libra 159
26°03′ Libra 23°16′ Libra 159
28°14′ Libra 25°27′ Libra 159
0°25′ Scorpio 27°38′ Libra 159
2°36′ Scorpio 29°49′ Libra 159
4°46′ Scorpio 2°00′ Scorpio 159
6°57′ Scorpio 4°10′ Scorpio 159
1960s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1960s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
9°08′ Scorpio 6°21′ Scorpio 159
11°18′ Scorpio 8°32′ Scorpio 159
13°29′ Scorpio 10°42′ Scorpio 160
15°39′ Scorpio 12°52′ Scorpio 160
17°49′ Scorpio 15°03′ Scorpio 160
20°00′ Scorpio 17°13′ Scorpio 160
22°10′ Scorpio 19°24′ Scorpio 160
24°21′ Scorpio 21°34′ Scorpio 160
26°31′ Scorpio 23°45′ Scorpio 160
28°42′ Scorpio 25°55′ Scorpio 160
1970s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1970s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
0°53′ Sagittarius 28°07′ Scorpio 160
3°04′ Sagittarius 0°18′ Sagittarius 160
5°15′ Sagittarius 2°28′ Sagittarius 160
7°25′ Sagittarius 4°39′ Sagittarius 160
9°36′ Sagittarius 6°50′ Sagittarius 160
11°47′ Sagittarius 9°01′ Sagittarius 160
13°58′ Sagittarius 11°11′ Sagittarius 160
16°08′ Sagittarius 13°22′ Sagittarius 160
18°19′ Sagittarius 15°32′ Sagittarius 160
20°29′ Sagittarius 17°43′ Sagittarius 160
1980s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1980s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
22°40′ Sagittarius 19°54′ Sagittarius 160
24°51′ Sagittarius 22°04′ Sagittarius 160
27°02′ Sagittarius 24°16′ Sagittarius 160
29°13′ Sagittarius 26°27′ Sagittarius 160
1°25′ Capricorn 28°39′ Sagittarius 160
3°36′ Capricorn 0°50′ Capricorn 160
5°48′ Capricorn 3°02′ Capricorn 160
8°00′ Capricorn 5°13′ Capricorn 160
10°11′ Capricorn 7°25′ Capricorn 160
12°22′ Capricorn 9°36′ Capricorn 160
1990s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 1990s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
14°34′ Capricorn 11°48′ Capricorn 160
16°46′ Capricorn 13°59′ Capricorn 160
18°57′ Capricorn 16°10′ Capricorn 160
21°09′ Capricorn 18°22′ Capricorn 160
23°21′ Capricorn 20°34′ Capricorn 160
25°33′ Capricorn 22°46′ Capricorn 160
27°45′ Capricorn 24°58′ Capricorn 160
29°57′ Capricorn 27°10′ Capricorn 160
2°10′ Aquarius 29°23′ Capricorn 160
4°22′ Aquarius 1°35′ Aquarius 160
2000s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2000s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
6°34′ Aquarius 3°47′ Aquarius 160
8°46′ Aquarius 6°00′ Aquarius 160
10°58′ Aquarius 8°12′ Aquarius 160
13°11′ Aquarius 10°24′ Aquarius 160
15°24′ Aquarius 12°36′ Aquarius 160
17°36′ Aquarius 14°49′ Aquarius 160
19°49′ Aquarius 17°02′ Aquarius 160
22°02′ Aquarius 19°15′ Aquarius 160
24°15′ Aquarius 21°28′ Aquarius 160
26°28′ Aquarius 23°42′ Aquarius 160
2010s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2010s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
28°42′ Aquarius 25°55′ Aquarius 159
0°55′ Pisces 28°08′ Aquarius 160
3°09′ Pisces 0°21′ Pisces 159
5°22′ Pisces 2°34′ Pisces 159
7°36′ Pisces 4°48′ Pisces 159
9°49′ Pisces 7°01′ Pisces 159
12°02′ Pisces 9°15′ Pisces 159
14°16′ Pisces 11°28′ Pisces 159
16°30′ Pisces 13°42′ Pisces 159
18°43′ Pisces 15°55′ Pisces 159
2020s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2020s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
20°57′ Pisces 18°10′ Pisces 159
23°12′ Pisces 20°24′ Pisces 159
25°27′ Pisces 22°39′ Pisces 159
27°41′ Pisces 24°53′ Pisces 159
29°56′ Pisces 27°07′ Pisces 159
2°10′ Aries 29°22′ Pisces 159
4°25′ Aries 1°37′ Aries 158
6°39′ Aries 3°51′ Aries 158
8°54′ Aries 6°05′ Aries 158
11°08′ Aries 8°19′ Aries 158
2030s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2030s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
13°22′ Aries 10°34′ Aries 158
15°37′ Aries 12°49′ Aries 158
17°52′ Aries 15°03′ Aries 158
20°07′ Aries 17°18′ Aries 158
22°22′ Aries 19°33′ Aries 158
24°37′ Aries 21°48′ Aries 158
26°52′ Aries 24°03′ Aries 158
29°07′ Aries 26°18′ Aries 158
1°22′ Taurus 28°33′ Aries 158
3°37′ Taurus 0°48′ Taurus 158
2040s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2040s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
5°52′ Taurus 3°03′ Taurus 157
8°07′ Taurus 5°18′ Taurus 157
10°21′ Taurus 7°33′ Taurus 157
12°36′ Taurus 9°48′ Taurus 157
14°51′ Taurus 12°03′ Taurus 157
17°06′ Taurus 14°18′ Taurus 157
19°22′ Taurus 16°33′ Taurus 157
21°37′ Taurus 18°48′ Taurus 157
23°52′ Taurus 21°03′ Taurus 157
26°07′ Taurus 23°19′ Taurus 157
2050s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2050s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
28°22′ Taurus 25°34′ Taurus 157
0°37′ Gemini 27°48′ Taurus 157
2°52′ Gemini 0°03′ Gemini 157
5°07′ Gemini 2°18′ Gemini 157
7°21′ Gemini 4°32′ Gemini 157
9°36′ Gemini 6°47′ Gemini 157
11°51′ Gemini 9°01′ Gemini 157
14°05′ Gemini 11°16′ Gemini 157
16°20′ Gemini 13°31′ Gemini 157
18°35′ Gemini 15°46′ Gemini 157
2060s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2060s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
20°50′ Gemini 18°01′ Gemini 156
23°05′ Gemini 20°16′ Gemini 157
25°20′ Gemini 22°31′ Gemini 156
27°34′ Gemini 24°46′ Gemini 156
29°49′ Gemini 27°00′ Gemini 156
2°03′ Cancer 29°15′ Gemini 156
4°18′ Cancer 1°28′ Cancer 156
6°31′ Cancer 3°42′ Cancer 156
8°45′ Cancer 5°56′ Cancer 157
10°59′ Cancer 8°10′ Cancer 156
2070s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2070s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
13°13′ Cancer 10°24′ Cancer 156
15°27′ Cancer 12°38′ Cancer 156
17°40′ Cancer 14°52′ Cancer 156
19°54′ Cancer 17°06′ Cancer 156
22°08′ Cancer 19°19′ Cancer 156
24°22′ Cancer 21°33′ Cancer 156
26°35′ Cancer 23°46′ Cancer 157
28°48′ Cancer 26°00′ Cancer 157
1°01′ Leo 28°13′ Cancer 157
3°15′ Leo 0°26′ Leo 157
2080s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2080s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
5°27′ Leo 2°39′ Leo 157
7°40′ Leo 4°52′ Leo 157
9°53′ Leo 7°04′ Leo 157
12°06′ Leo 9°18′ Leo 157
14°19′ Leo 11°30′ Leo 157
16°31′ Leo 13°43′ Leo 157
18°44′ Leo 15°56′ Leo 157
20°57′ Leo 18°09′ Leo 157
23°09′ Leo 20°21′ Leo 157
25°21′ Leo 22°33′ Leo 157
2090s (10 periods)
Every Neptune retrograde period beginning in the 2090s, with the zodiac degree of each station and the length of the period.
Goes retrograde At Turns direct At Days
27°33′ Leo 24°45′ Leo 157
29°45′ Leo 26°57′ Leo 157
1°57′ Virgo 29°09′ Leo 157
4°09′ Virgo 1°21′ Virgo 157
6°21′ Virgo 3°33′ Virgo 157
8°32′ Virgo 5°45′ Virgo 157
10°44′ Virgo 7°57′ Virgo 157
12°56′ Virgo 10°09′ Virgo 157
15°08′ Virgo 12°21′ Virgo 157
17°20′ Virgo 14°33′ Virgo 158

The archive comes from the shared event catalogue, and I store each station there floored to the hour, so the UTC calendar date is exact but no time of day is shown. It also means a degree here can sit an arc-minute below the same station in the near-term table above, which is solved to the second. Degrees are apparent geocentric ecliptic longitude for the equinox of date, the tropical position an astrologer reads. The catalogue is published under CC BY 4.0. Cite as: AstroCalcs, Neptune retrograde dates 1900–2100, https://astrocalcs.com/neptune-retrograde-dates/ (CC BY 4.0).

Retrograde dates for the other planets

The same tables, built the same way, for each of the eight planets that ever appear to run backward.

Looking at one chart rather than the calendar? The natal retrograde calculator says which planets were retrograde on a birth date, and Cycle Lab finds every station and eclipse near any degree.

Neptune retrograde FAQ

When is Neptune retrograde in 2026?

In 2026, Neptune is retrograde from Jul 7 to Dec 12, counting in UTC. The calendar above has the full date of each station and the sign and degree it happens at, to the arc-minute. If an almanac you trust says a day earlier or later, it is probably working in local time, and the station fell near midnight.

How long does Neptune retrograde last?

About 158 days, taking the median of the 199 periods between 1900 and 2100. The shortest ran 156 days and the longest 160. Each is the gap between a period's two stations as the catalogue stores them, floored to the hour, so lengths come out in whole days rather than hours. Nothing here is a rule of thumb; the figures are counted from the stations themselves.

How often does Neptune go retrograde?

About once a year. Sampled at noon UTC on every day from 1900 to 2100, Neptune is retrograde 42.9% of the time. Birthdays are spread over those same days, so that is also, near enough, the share of birth charts with Neptune retrograde. That is a lot of the time, and astrologers say less about an outer planet being retrograde in a chart than about Venus or Mars, partly for that reason.

Is Neptune retrograde right now?

The banner at the top of the page answers that. It is written into the page at build time, then rechecked in your browser against your device's clock, using the station dates the page already carries, so it stays right between rebuilds. It also marks the matching row in the calendar as happening now or next up. It reads your clock and nothing else.