Both stations in Aquarius
Pluto retrograde
May 2030.
Pluto stations retrograde at 12°04′ Aquarius on May 12, 2030 at 23:12 UTC and stations direct at 9°40′ Aquarius on October 23, 2030 at 03:06 UTC. Pre-shadow begins January 17, 2030 at 23:00 UTC, the opposition is August 3, 2030 at 02:59 UTC, at 10°51′ Aquarius, and post-shadow ends February 14, 2031 at 12:15 UTC.
Dates below are UTC, to the minute.
Station dates
The five moments of the May 2030 Pluto cycle. Both stations are in Aquarius. The retrograde lasts 164 days.
| Phase | UTC | Your time | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow starts | Jan 17, 2030 · 23:00 | UTC only | — |
| Station retrograde | May 12, 2030 · 23:12 | UTC only | 12°04′ Aquarius |
| Opposition (opposite the Sun) | Aug 3, 2030 · 02:59 | UTC only | 10°51′ Aquarius |
| Station direct | Oct 23, 2030 · 03:06 | UTC only | 9°40′ Aquarius |
| Post-shadow ends | Feb 14, 2031 · 12:15 | 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°24′ of the zodiac: it stations retrograde at 12°04′ Aquarius and backs up to 9°40′ Aquarius before it stations direct. The whole loop stays in Aquarius. Pluto first reaches 9°40′ Aquarius on January 17, 2030, 115 days before the station, and clears 12°04′ Aquarius again on February 14, 2031, 114 days after it turns direct: 393 days on these degrees in all. The opposition falls on day 84 of 164, at 10°51′ Aquarius.
The last Pluto retrograde station in Aquarius before this one was May 11, 2029 at 04:17 UTC, at 10°27′ Aquarius. No later one in Aquarius is listed in this calendar.
What to do in each phase
| Phase | Dates | Traditional focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow | Jan 17, 2030 – May 12, 2030 | Finish what you meant to transform. |
| Retrograde | May 12, 2030 – Oct 23, 2030 | Look at what you control and what controls you; let go slowly. |
| Opposition | Aug 3, 2030 · 02:59 | Pluto at opposition, opposite the Sun. |
| Post-shadow | Oct 23, 2030 – Feb 14, 2031 | Rebuild on what remained. |
Compared with the previous cycle
| May 2029 | This cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Station retrograde | May 11, 2029 · 10°27′ Aquarius | May 12, 2030 · 12°04′ Aquarius |
| Station direct | Oct 21, 2029 · 8°03′ Aquarius | Oct 23, 2030 · 9°40′ Aquarius |
| Signs | Aquarius | Aquarius |
| Length | 163 days | 164 days |
| Retrograde arc | 2°24′ | 2°24′ |
Pluto moves direct for 203 days between the two retrogrades. This one lasts 164 days, 1 day longer than the May 2029 cycle, and its retrograde station sits 1°37′ further along the zodiac than the previous one.
Other planets retrograde at the same time
Between May 12, 2030 at 23:12 UTC and October 23, 2030 at 03:06 UTC, 5 other planets are retrograde for at least part of the time:
- Mercury in Virgo, Aug 16, 2030 to Sep 8, 2030
- Jupiter in Scorpio, Mar 13, 2030 to Jul 15, 2030
- Saturn in Gemini, Sep 20, 2030 to Feb 2, 2031
- Uranus in Gemini, Sep 28, 2030 to Feb 25, 2031
- Neptune in Aries, Jul 16, 2030 to Dec 21, 2030
Questions
When is Pluto retrograde in May 2030?
Pluto stations retrograde at 12°04′ Aquarius on May 12, 2030 at 23:12 UTC and stations direct at 9°40′ Aquarius on October 23, 2030 at 03:06 UTC. Pre-shadow begins January 17, 2030 at 23:00 UTC, the opposition is August 3, 2030 at 02:59 UTC, at 10°51′ Aquarius, and post-shadow ends February 14, 2031 at 12:15 UTC.
When does the May 2030 Pluto retrograde end?
Pluto stations direct on October 23, 2030 at 03:06 UTC, at 9°40′ Aquarius, and post-shadow ends February 14, 2031 at 12:15 UTC.
When is the Pluto opposition in this retrograde?
The opposition is August 3, 2030 at 02:59 UTC, at 10°51′ Aquarius.
How long is this Pluto retrograde?
164 days from station to station in UTC calendar days, from May 12, 2030 at 23:12 UTC to October 23, 2030 at 03:06 UTC.
What sign is Pluto retrograde in, May 2030?
In Aquarius: both stations fall in the same sign, at 12°04′ Aquarius on May 12, 2030 at 23:12 UTC and at 9°40′ Aquarius on October 23, 2030 at 03:06 UTC.
When is the shadow of the May 2030 Pluto retrograde?
Pre-shadow runs 115 days, from January 17, 2030 at 23:00 UTC to the retrograde station; post-shadow runs 114 days, from the direct station to February 14, 2031 at 12:15 UTC. With the shadow, the cycle spans 393 days.
How does this Pluto retrograde compare with the previous one?
The previous one, May 2029, ran from May 11, 2029 at 04:17 UTC to October 21, 2029 at 03:54 UTC and lasted 163 days; this one lasts 164 days. Pluto moves direct for 203 days in between.
When was Pluto last retrograde in Aquarius?
The last Pluto retrograde station in Aquarius before this one was May 11, 2029 at 04:17 UTC, at 10°27′ Aquarius. No later one in Aquarius is listed in this calendar.
Which other planets are retrograde during the May 2030 Pluto retrograde?
Between May 12, 2030 at 23:12 UTC and October 23, 2030 at 03:06 UTC: Mercury in Virgo, Aug 16, 2030 to Sep 8, 2030, Jupiter in Scorpio, Mar 13, 2030 to Jul 15, 2030, Saturn in Gemini, Sep 20, 2030 to Feb 2, 2031, Uranus in Gemini, Sep 28, 2030 to Feb 25, 2031, and Neptune in Aries, Jul 16, 2030 to Dec 21, 2030.
What should I do during this Pluto retrograde?
From May 12, 2030 at 23:12 UTC to October 23, 2030 at 03:06 UTC: Look at what you control and what controls you; let go slowly.
Every Pluto retrograde · All planets 2030 · All planets today · Mercury today · Mercury calendar for iPhone