Both stations in Aquarius
Pluto retrograde
May 2028.
Pluto stations retrograde at 8°50′ Aquarius on May 9, 2028 at 09:33 UTC and stations direct at 6°24′ Aquarius on October 19, 2028 at 03:42 UTC. Pre-shadow begins January 15, 2028 at 15:37 UTC, the opposition is July 30, 2028 at 06:03 UTC, at 7°37′ Aquarius, and post-shadow ends February 10, 2029 at 08:10 UTC.
Dates below are UTC, to the minute.
Station dates
The five moments of the May 2028 Pluto cycle. Both stations are in Aquarius. The retrograde lasts 163 days.
| Phase | UTC | Your time | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow starts | Jan 15, 2028 · 15:37 | UTC only | — |
| Station retrograde | May 9, 2028 · 09:33 | UTC only | 8°50′ Aquarius |
| Opposition (opposite the Sun) | Jul 30, 2028 · 06:03 | UTC only | 7°37′ Aquarius |
| Station direct | Oct 19, 2028 · 03:42 | UTC only | 6°24′ Aquarius |
| Post-shadow ends | Feb 10, 2029 · 08:10 | 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°26′ of the zodiac: it stations retrograde at 8°50′ Aquarius and backs up to 6°24′ Aquarius before it stations direct. The whole loop stays in Aquarius. Pluto first reaches 6°24′ Aquarius on January 15, 2028, 115 days before the station, and clears 8°50′ Aquarius again on February 10, 2029, 114 days after it turns direct: 392 days on these degrees in all. The opposition falls on day 83 of 163, at 7°37′ Aquarius.
The last Pluto retrograde station in Aquarius before this one was May 8, 2027 at 12:56 UTC, at 7°11′ Aquarius. The next one is May 11, 2029 at 04:17 UTC, at 10°27′ Aquarius.
What to do in each phase
| Phase | Dates | Traditional focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow | Jan 15, 2028 – May 9, 2028 | Finish what you meant to transform. |
| Retrograde | May 9, 2028 – Oct 19, 2028 | Look at what you control and what controls you; let go slowly. |
| Opposition | Jul 30, 2028 · 06:03 | Pluto at opposition, opposite the Sun. |
| Post-shadow | Oct 19, 2028 – Feb 10, 2029 | Rebuild on what remained. |
Compared with the previous cycle
| May 2027 | This cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Station retrograde | May 8, 2027 · 7°11′ Aquarius | May 9, 2028 · 8°50′ Aquarius |
| Station direct | Oct 18, 2027 · 4°45′ Aquarius | Oct 19, 2028 · 6°24′ Aquarius |
| Signs | Aquarius | Aquarius |
| Length | 163 days | 163 days |
| Retrograde arc | 2°26′ | 2°26′ |
Pluto moves direct for 204 days between the two retrogrades. This one lasts 163 days, the same as the May 2027 cycle, and its retrograde station sits 1°39′ further along the zodiac than the previous one.
Other planets retrograde at the same time
Between May 9, 2028 at 09:33 UTC and October 19, 2028 at 03:42 UTC, 7 other planets are retrograde for at least part of the time:
- Mercury in Gemini, May 21, 2028 to Jun 14, 2028
- Mercury in Libra, Sep 19, 2028 to Oct 11, 2028
- Venus in Gemini, May 10, 2028 to Jun 22, 2028
- Jupiter in Virgo, Jan 12, 2028 to May 13, 2028
- Saturn in Taurus, Aug 22, 2028 to Jan 5, 2029
- Uranus in Gemini, Sep 19, 2028 to Feb 16, 2029
- Neptune in Aries, Jul 11, 2028 to Dec 16, 2028
Questions
When is Pluto retrograde in May 2028?
Pluto stations retrograde at 8°50′ Aquarius on May 9, 2028 at 09:33 UTC and stations direct at 6°24′ Aquarius on October 19, 2028 at 03:42 UTC. Pre-shadow begins January 15, 2028 at 15:37 UTC, the opposition is July 30, 2028 at 06:03 UTC, at 7°37′ Aquarius, and post-shadow ends February 10, 2029 at 08:10 UTC.
When does the May 2028 Pluto retrograde end?
Pluto stations direct on October 19, 2028 at 03:42 UTC, at 6°24′ Aquarius, and post-shadow ends February 10, 2029 at 08:10 UTC.
When is the Pluto opposition in this retrograde?
The opposition is July 30, 2028 at 06:03 UTC, at 7°37′ Aquarius.
How long is this Pluto retrograde?
163 days from station to station in UTC calendar days, from May 9, 2028 at 09:33 UTC to October 19, 2028 at 03:42 UTC.
What sign is Pluto retrograde in, May 2028?
In Aquarius: both stations fall in the same sign, at 8°50′ Aquarius on May 9, 2028 at 09:33 UTC and at 6°24′ Aquarius on October 19, 2028 at 03:42 UTC.
When is the shadow of the May 2028 Pluto retrograde?
Pre-shadow runs 115 days, from January 15, 2028 at 15:37 UTC to the retrograde station; post-shadow runs 114 days, from the direct station to February 10, 2029 at 08:10 UTC. With the shadow, the cycle spans 392 days.
How does this Pluto retrograde compare with the previous one?
The previous one, May 2027, ran from May 8, 2027 at 12:56 UTC to October 18, 2027 at 03:50 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 8, 2027 at 12:56 UTC, at 7°11′ Aquarius. The next one is May 11, 2029 at 04:17 UTC, at 10°27′ Aquarius.
Which other planets are retrograde during the May 2028 Pluto retrograde?
Between May 9, 2028 at 09:33 UTC and October 19, 2028 at 03:42 UTC: Mercury in Gemini, May 21, 2028 to Jun 14, 2028, Mercury in Libra, Sep 19, 2028 to Oct 11, 2028, Venus in Gemini, May 10, 2028 to Jun 22, 2028, Jupiter in Virgo, Jan 12, 2028 to May 13, 2028, Saturn in Taurus, Aug 22, 2028 to Jan 5, 2029, Uranus in Gemini, Sep 19, 2028 to Feb 16, 2029, and Neptune in Aries, Jul 11, 2028 to Dec 16, 2028.
What should I do during this Pluto retrograde?
From May 9, 2028 at 09:33 UTC to October 19, 2028 at 03:42 UTC: Look at what you control and what controls you; let go slowly.
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