Mars retrograde · 2027
Mars retrograde 2027: dates, degrees and what it means for each sign
Everything about Mars retrograde in 2027 in one place: the exact station dates and degrees, the shadow periods, which other planets are retrograde at the same time, and a reading with practical advice for each of the twelve signs.
Mars retrograde 2027 runs January 10 – April 1. Mars stations retrograde at 10°26′ Virgo, backs into Leo on February 21 and turns direct at 20°56′ Leo. Astrologers read it as a time to review drive, desire, anger and how you go after things. The opposition, the midpoint, falls on February 19, 2027.
Is Mars retrograde right now?
Computed in your browser from NASA JPL Horizons positions (UTC dates). The app adds your own chart: which of these retrogrades touch your planets.
Key sky dates, late 2026 – early 2027
The transits most people feel in decisions, relationships and money.
Mars retrograde 2027: the dates
- January 10 – April 1, 2027 (81 days). Mars stations retrograde on January 10, 2027 at 12:59 UTC, at 10°26′ Virgo, backs into Leo on February 21. Mars stations direct on April 1, 2027 at 14:08 UTC, at 20°56′ Leo.
Mars is retrograde about every 26 months, for 9 to 12 weeks: about 9% of the time.
Times are UTC. Nothing reverses in space: retrograde motion is the apparent backward drift a planet shows when Earth overtakes it (or, for Mercury and Venus, when the planet overtakes Earth).
Mars retrograde Jan 10 – Apr 1, 2027: key dates
| Date (UTC) | What happens |
|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | Pre-retrograde shadow begins: Mars first crosses 20°56′ Leo, the degree where it will later turn direct |
| Jan 10, 2027, 12:59 UTC | Mars stations retrograde at 10°26′ Virgo |
| Feb 19, 2027 | Opposition: Mars is opposite the Sun at 0° Virgo, closest to Earth and visible all night; the midpoint of the retrograde |
| Feb 21, 2027 | Mars backs out of Virgo into Leo |
| Apr 1, 2027, 14:08 UTC | Mars stations direct at 20°56′ Leo |
| May 14, 2027 | Mars re-enters Virgo, moving forward |
| Jun 8, 2027 | Post-retrograde shadow ends: Mars passes 10°26′ Virgo again and covers new ground |
Computed from NASA JPL Horizons. A station in the first hours of a UTC day falls on the previous evening in the Americas.
What else is retrograde at the same time
Retrogrades overlap, and astrologers read them together. These planets are also retrograde during at least part of each period:
- Jan 10 – Apr 1, 2027: Mercury (Feb 9 – Mar 3, 2027), Jupiter (Dec 13, 2026 – Apr 13, 2027), Uranus (Sep 10, 2026 – Feb 8, 2027).
The whole year is on the retrograde calendar 2027.
What Mars retrograde means in 2027
In astrology Mars stands for drive, desire, anger and how you go after things. Mars retrograde is read as energy turned inward: projects stall and need rework, old conflicts come back for a better ending, and you ask what you are actually fighting for. In Virgo the subject is work, routines, health habits and attention to detail. In Leo the subject is confidence, creativity, romance and the need to be seen.
Who notices it most. For Jan 10 – Apr 1, 2027 astrologers look first at people with the Sun, Moon, rising sign or personal planets from 20° Leo to 10° Virgo, and at the matching degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Aquarius, Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces. Everyone else can read it through the house it falls in, below.
What to do
Finish, repair and rework what is already in motion, and pace your training and rest. Leave optional fights, ultimatums and ventures that depend on speed until Mars is direct. The longer guide, with the astronomy and the reading of a natal Mars retrograde, is on the Mars retrograde page.
Two phases: Virgo, then Leo
- January 10 to February 21, Mars retrograde in Virgo. Virgo is the sign of work, routines, health habits and detail. Astrologers read this phase as a review of how you spend your effort: overloaded schedules, perfectionism, criticism given and received, and the training or health routine that needs a redesign.
- February 21 to April 1, Mars retrograde in Leo. Leo is the sign of pride, creative work, romance and being seen. This phase is read as a review of what you do for recognition, old rivalries and wounded pride, and creative or romantic projects that stalled.
Mars does not return to Virgo until May 14, 2027.
Seeing Mars in early 2027
Mars is retrograde only about every 26 months, so this is the first one since February 2025. The overtaking happens at the opposition on February 19, when Mars is opposite the Sun, rises at sunset and is at its closest and brightest for this cycle. If you want to see Mars, February 2027 is the time.
A season for rework
Jupiter is retrograde in Leo for the whole period, so Mars joins it there from late February; Mercury is retrograde for three weeks in February and March; and there are eclipses on February 6 and February 20. Astrologers would read the first quarter of 2027 as a time for rework and patience more than for launches. If something cannot wait, start it deliberately and expect a second pass.
Mars retrograde Jan 10 – Apr 1, 2027 for each sign
Read your rising sign first if you know it, since it sets the houses; then your Sun sign. Houses are counted from your sign in whole-sign style. The birthdays show whose Sun the retrograde touches directly: Mars covers 20° Leo to 10° Virgo, and the Sun moves about one degree a day, so the dates are approximate.
Aries: 6th house, then 5th
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 6th house: daily work, routines and health habits. Overwork, friction with colleagues and a training routine that no longer suits your body. What to do: cut the workload to what matters, redesign your exercise plan, and rest when you are run down.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 5th house: romance, creativity, children and fun. Desire and pride: a lover from the past, competition, a creative project you abandoned in frustration. What to do: go back to the project and finish it, and keep rivalry playful.
Easier for Aries born around April 9–20 (Sun at 20°–29°): Mars trines your Sun.
Taurus: 5th house, then 4th
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 5th house: romance, creativity, children and fun. Desire and pride: a lover from the past, competition, a creative project you abandoned in frustration. What to do: go back to the project and finish it, and keep rivalry playful.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 4th house: home, family, roots and where you live. Tension at home, an old family quarrel, repairs that stall. What to do: fix what is broken in the house and settle the old dispute calmly; delay a renovation you could start later.
Easier for Taurus born around April 20 – May 1 (Sun at 0°–10°): Mars trines your Sun. Strongest for Taurus born around May 10–20 (Sun at 20°–29°): Mars squares your Sun.
Gemini: 4th house, then 3rd
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 4th house: home, family, roots and where you live. Tension at home, an old family quarrel, repairs that stall. What to do: fix what is broken in the house and settle the old dispute calmly; delay a renovation you could start later.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 3rd house: communication, learning, siblings and short trips. Sharp words, arguments by message and risky haste on the road. What to do: say it later and shorter, drive and cycle with patience, and finish the paperwork you keep avoiding.
Strongest for Gemini born around May 21 – June 1 (Sun at 0°–10°): Mars squares your Sun. Easier for Gemini born around June 10–20 (Sun at 20°–29°): Mars sextiles your Sun.
Cancer: 3rd house, then 2nd
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 3rd house: communication, learning, siblings and short trips. Sharp words, arguments by message and risky haste on the road. What to do: say it later and shorter, drive and cycle with patience, and finish the paperwork you keep avoiding.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 2nd house: money, income, possessions and self-worth. Frustration about money and effort: working hard for too little, or spending on impulse. What to do: rework how you earn rather than only working more, and wait a day before a purchase made in irritation.
Easier for Cancer born around June 21 – July 2 (Sun at 0°–10°): Mars sextiles your Sun.
Leo: 2nd house, then 1st
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 2nd house: money, income, possessions and self-worth. Frustration about money and effort: working hard for too little, or spending on impulse. What to do: rework how you earn rather than only working more, and wait a day before a purchase made in irritation.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 1st house: your body, identity and how you come across. Your energy and temper are uneven, and you question how you assert yourself and what you are chasing. What to do: pace your training and rest, and decide what you actually want before you push for it.
Strongest for Leo born around August 12–22 (Sun at 20°–29°): Mars retrogrades over your Sun.
Virgo: 1st house, then 12th
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 1st house: your body, identity and how you come across. Your energy and temper are uneven, and you question how you assert yourself and what you are chasing. What to do: pace your training and rest, and decide what you actually want before you push for it.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 12th house: rest, solitude, endings and what you keep private. Anger you have been swallowing, exhaustion, working against yourself. What to do: rest properly, find a physical outlet, and look honestly at what you have been avoiding.
Strongest for Virgo born around August 23 – September 3 (Sun at 0°–10°): Mars retrogrades over your Sun.
Libra: 12th house, then 11th
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 12th house: rest, solitude, endings and what you keep private. Anger you have been swallowing, exhaustion, working against yourself. What to do: rest properly, find a physical outlet, and look honestly at what you have been avoiding.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 11th house: friends, groups and long-term hopes. Tension in a group or a friendship, and goals that lose their pull. What to do: step back from a draining group, and drop one goal that was never really yours.
Easier for Libra born around October 13–23 (Sun at 20°–29°): Mars sextiles your Sun.
Scorpio: 11th house, then 10th
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 11th house: friends, groups and long-term hopes. Tension in a group or a friendship, and goals that lose their pull. What to do: step back from a draining group, and drop one goal that was never really yours.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 10th house: career, reputation and public role. Career drive stalls or turns into conflict with a boss, and ambitions are re-evaluated. What to do: rework your strategy and your workload, and avoid resigning in anger.
Easier for Scorpio born around October 23 – November 3 (Sun at 0°–10°): Mars sextiles your Sun. Strongest for Scorpio born around November 12–22 (Sun at 20°–29°): Mars squares your Sun.
Sagittarius: 10th house, then 9th
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 10th house: career, reputation and public role. Career drive stalls or turns into conflict with a boss, and ambitions are re-evaluated. What to do: rework your strategy and your workload, and avoid resigning in anger.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 9th house: travel, study, beliefs and publishing. Arguments about beliefs, legal or travel plans that stall, a course you stopped. What to do: return to the study or the application, and pick your battles about being right.
Strongest for Sagittarius born around November 22 – December 3 (Sun at 0°–10°): Mars squares your Sun. Easier for Sagittarius born around December 12–22 (Sun at 20°–29°): Mars trines your Sun.
Capricorn: 9th house, then 8th
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 9th house: travel, study, beliefs and publishing. Arguments about beliefs, legal or travel plans that stall, a course you stopped. What to do: return to the study or the application, and pick your battles about being right.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 8th house: shared money, debts, intimacy and trust. Power struggles about shared money, debt or intimacy, and resentment that has been building. What to do: renegotiate a shared obligation and say what you want directly; avoid financial moves made in anger.
Easier for Capricorn born around December 21 – January 2 (Sun at 0°–10°): Mars trines your Sun.
Aquarius: 8th house, then 7th
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 8th house: shared money, debts, intimacy and trust. Power struggles about shared money, debt or intimacy, and resentment that has been building. What to do: renegotiate a shared obligation and say what you want directly; avoid financial moves made in anger.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 7th house: partnerships, marriage and one-to-one relationships. A conflict with a partner, a rival or a client comes back for a proper ending. What to do: fight fair and listen; end an old argument instead of opening a new one.
Strongest for Aquarius born around February 9–19 (Sun at 20°–29°): Mars is opposite your Sun.
Pisces: 7th house, then 6th
Until Feb 21 (Virgo), 7th house: partnerships, marriage and one-to-one relationships. A conflict with a partner, a rival or a client comes back for a proper ending. What to do: fight fair and listen; end an old argument instead of opening a new one.
From Feb 21 (Leo), 6th house: daily work, routines and health habits. Overwork, friction with colleagues and a training routine that no longer suits your body. What to do: cut the workload to what matters, redesign your exercise plan, and rest when you are run down.
Strongest for Pisces born around February 18 – March 1 (Sun at 0°–10°): Mars is opposite your Sun.
Mars retrograde 2027: questions
When is Mars retrograde in 2027?
In 2027: January 10 – April 1 (Virgo back into Leo). Dates are UTC.
When does Mars go direct in 2027?
Mars stations direct on April 1, 2027 at 14:08 UTC, at 20°56′ Leo.
Which sign is Mars retrograde in during 2027?
Jan 10 – Apr 1, 2027: from 10°26′ Virgo back to 20°56′ Leo.
When is the Mars retrograde shadow period in 2027?
For the Jan 10 – Apr 1, 2027 retrograde the pre-shadow begins on November 5, 2026 and the post-shadow ends on June 8, 2027.
When is Mars at opposition in 2027?
On February 19, 2027, at 0° Virgo. Mars is then opposite the Sun, closest to Earth for the year and visible all night; it is the midpoint of the retrograde.
Who is most affected by Mars retrograde in 2027?
For Jan 10 – Apr 1, 2027 astrologers look first at people with the Sun, Moon, rising sign or personal planets from 20° Leo to 10° Virgo, and at the matching degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Aquarius, Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces. Others feel it through the house it falls in for their rising sign.
Is Mars retrograde in 2028?
No. There is no Mars retrograde in 2028.
Sources
The checkable facts on this page come from these external sources. The astrological interpretation is our own.
- Horizons System (planetary ephemeris service) · NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryMars in 2027, computed from JPL Horizons positions: retrograde 2027-01-10 12:59 UTC at 10°26′ Virgo, direct 2027-04-01 14:08 UTC at 20°56′ Leo
- Mars: Facts · NASA ScienceA year on Mars lasts 687 Earth days
- What does it mean for Mercury to be in retrograde? · NASARetrograde motion is an apparent change in a planet's movement through the sky; the planet does not physically move backwards in its orbit
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