Both stations in Aquarius
Pluto retrograde
May 2026.
Pluto stations retrograde at 5°31′ Aquarius on May 6, 2026 at 15:34 UTC and stations direct at 3°04′ Aquarius on October 16, 2026 at 02:40 UTC. Pre-shadow begins January 12, 2026 at 07:42 UTC, the opposition is July 27, 2026 at 06:55 UTC, at 4°17′ Aquarius, and post-shadow ends February 7, 2027 at 01:16 UTC.
Dates below are UTC, to the minute.
Station dates
The five moments of the May 2026 Pluto cycle. Both stations are in Aquarius. The retrograde lasts 163 days.
| Phase | UTC | Your time | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow starts | Jan 12, 2026 · 07:42 | UTC only | — |
| Station retrograde | May 6, 2026 · 15:34 | UTC only | 5°31′ Aquarius |
| Opposition (opposite the Sun) | Jul 27, 2026 · 06:55 | UTC only | 4°17′ Aquarius |
| Station direct | Oct 16, 2026 · 02:40 | UTC only | 3°04′ Aquarius |
| Post-shadow ends | Feb 7, 2027 · 01:16 | UTC only | — |
The opposition is the minute Pluto stands opposite the Sun in ecliptic longitude, in the middle of the retrograde. Around it Pluto rises at sunset and is up all night. How these are timed.
Signs and degrees
Pluto retraces 2°27′ of the zodiac: it stations retrograde at 5°31′ Aquarius and backs up to 3°04′ Aquarius before it stations direct. The whole loop stays in Aquarius. Pluto first reaches 3°04′ Aquarius on January 12, 2026, 114 days before the station, and clears 5°31′ Aquarius again on February 7, 2027, 114 days after it turns direct: 391 days on these degrees in all. The opposition falls on day 83 of 163, at 4°17′ Aquarius.
The last Pluto retrograde station in Aquarius before this one was May 4, 2025 at 15:26 UTC, at 3°49′ Aquarius. The next one is May 8, 2027 at 12:56 UTC, at 7°11′ Aquarius.
What to do in each phase
| Phase | Dates | Traditional focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow | Jan 12, 2026 – May 6, 2026 | Finish what you meant to transform. |
| Retrograde | May 6, 2026 – Oct 16, 2026 | Look at what you control and what controls you; let go slowly. |
| Opposition | Jul 27, 2026 · 06:55 | Pluto at opposition, opposite the Sun. |
| Post-shadow | Oct 16, 2026 – Feb 7, 2027 | Rebuild on what remained. |
Compared with the previous cycle
| May 2025 | This cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Station retrograde | May 4, 2025 · 3°49′ Aquarius | May 6, 2026 · 5°31′ Aquarius |
| Station direct | Oct 14, 2025 · 1°22′ Aquarius | Oct 16, 2026 · 3°04′ Aquarius |
| Signs | Aquarius | Aquarius |
| Length | 163 days | 163 days |
| Retrograde arc | 2°27′ | 2°27′ |
Pluto moves direct for 204 days between the two retrogrades. This one lasts 163 days, the same as the May 2025 cycle, and its retrograde station sits 1°42′ further along the zodiac than the previous one.
Other planets retrograde at the same time
Between May 6, 2026 at 15:34 UTC and October 16, 2026 at 02:40 UTC, 5 other planets are retrograde for at least part of the time:
- Mercury in Cancer, Jun 29, 2026 to Jul 23, 2026
- Venus in Scorpio and Libra, Oct 3, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026
- Saturn in Aries, Jul 26, 2026 to Dec 10, 2026
- Uranus in Gemini, Sep 10, 2026 to Feb 8, 2027
- Neptune in Aries, Jul 7, 2026 to Dec 12, 2026
Questions
When is Pluto retrograde in May 2026?
Pluto stations retrograde at 5°31′ Aquarius on May 6, 2026 at 15:34 UTC and stations direct at 3°04′ Aquarius on October 16, 2026 at 02:40 UTC. Pre-shadow begins January 12, 2026 at 07:42 UTC, the opposition is July 27, 2026 at 06:55 UTC, at 4°17′ Aquarius, and post-shadow ends February 7, 2027 at 01:16 UTC.
When does the May 2026 Pluto retrograde end?
Pluto stations direct on October 16, 2026 at 02:40 UTC, at 3°04′ Aquarius, and post-shadow ends February 7, 2027 at 01:16 UTC.
When is the Pluto opposition in this retrograde?
The opposition is July 27, 2026 at 06:55 UTC, at 4°17′ Aquarius.
How long is this Pluto retrograde?
163 days from station to station in UTC calendar days, from May 6, 2026 at 15:34 UTC to October 16, 2026 at 02:40 UTC.
What sign is Pluto retrograde in, May 2026?
In Aquarius: both stations fall in the same sign, at 5°31′ Aquarius on May 6, 2026 at 15:34 UTC and at 3°04′ Aquarius on October 16, 2026 at 02:40 UTC.
When is the shadow of the May 2026 Pluto retrograde?
Pre-shadow runs 114 days, from January 12, 2026 at 07:42 UTC to the retrograde station; post-shadow runs 114 days, from the direct station to February 7, 2027 at 01:16 UTC. With the shadow, the cycle spans 391 days.
How does this Pluto retrograde compare with the previous one?
The previous one, May 2025, ran from May 4, 2025 at 15:26 UTC to October 14, 2025 at 02:53 UTC and lasted 163 days; this one lasts 163 days. Pluto moves direct for 204 days in between.
When was Pluto last retrograde in Aquarius?
The last Pluto retrograde station in Aquarius before this one was May 4, 2025 at 15:26 UTC, at 3°49′ Aquarius. The next one is May 8, 2027 at 12:56 UTC, at 7°11′ Aquarius.
Which other planets are retrograde during the May 2026 Pluto retrograde?
Between May 6, 2026 at 15:34 UTC and October 16, 2026 at 02:40 UTC: Mercury in Cancer, Jun 29, 2026 to Jul 23, 2026, Venus in Scorpio and Libra, Oct 3, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026, Saturn in Aries, Jul 26, 2026 to Dec 10, 2026, Uranus in Gemini, Sep 10, 2026 to Feb 8, 2027, and Neptune in Aries, Jul 7, 2026 to Dec 12, 2026.
What should I do during this Pluto retrograde?
From May 6, 2026 at 15:34 UTC to October 16, 2026 at 02:40 UTC: Look at what you control and what controls you; let go slowly.
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