The sky in 2031

Where the slow planets stand

Jupiter stays about a year in a sign, Saturn two to three, and the three outer planets many years: their sign is the year’s backdrop.

• Jupiter

  In Sagittarius, then into Capricorn on November 15.

  Retrograde April 15 to August 16, in Sagittarius.

  Jupiter in Sagittarius · Jupiter in Capricorn

• Saturn

  In Gemini all year.

  Retrograde September 20, 2030 to February 2, in Gemini and October 5 to February 16, 2032, in Gemini.

  Saturn in Gemini

• Uranus

  In Gemini all year.

  Retrograde September 28, 2030 to February 25, in Gemini and October 3 to March 1, 2032, in Gemini.

  Uranus in Gemini

• Neptune

  In Aries all year.

  Retrograde July 19 to December 24, in Aries.

  Neptune in Aries

• Pluto

  In Aquarius all year.

  Retrograde May 14 to October 24, in Aquarius.

  Pluto in Aquarius

Retrogrades through the year

Each bar is a planet seeming to turn back against the stars.

The eclipses

• A penumbral lunar eclipse in Scorpio

  Wednesday May 7, 3:51 a.m. UTC, at 16° Scorpio

• An annular solar eclipse in Gemini

  Wednesday May 21, 7:15 a.m. UTC, at 0° Gemini

• A penumbral lunar eclipse in Sagittarius

  Thursday June 5, 11:44 a.m. UTC, at 14° Sagittarius

• A penumbral lunar eclipse in Taurus

  Thursday October 30, 7:46 a.m. UTC, at 6° Taurus

• A hybrid solar eclipse in Scorpio

  Friday November 14, 9:06 p.m. UTC, at 22° Scorpio

Month by month

• January

  Full Moon in CancerNew Moon in Aquarius

  • January 15: Mars enters Scorpio

• February

  Full Moon in LeoNew Moon in Pisces

  • February 2: Saturn turns direct in Gemini
  • February 25: Uranus turns direct in Gemini

• March

  Full Moon in VirgoNew Moon in Aries

  • March 26: Mercury turns retrograde in Aries
  • March 29: Mars turns retrograde in Scorpio

• April

  Full Moon in LibraNew Moon in Taurus

  • April 15: Jupiter turns retrograde in Sagittarius
  • April 18: Mercury turns direct in Aries

• May

  Full Moon in Scorpio, an eclipseNew Moon in Gemini, an eclipse

  • May 14: Pluto turns retrograde in Aquarius

• June

  Full Moon in Sagittarius, an eclipseNew Moon in Gemini

  • June 13: Mars turns direct in Scorpio

• July

  Full Moon in CapricornNew Moon in Cancer

  • July 19: Neptune turns retrograde in Aries
  • July 20: Venus turns retrograde in Leo
  • July 29: Mercury turns retrograde in Leo

• August

  Full Moon in AquariusNew Moon in Leo

  • August 16: Jupiter turns direct in Sagittarius
  • August 22: Mercury turns direct in Leo
  • August 25: Mars enters Sagittarius

• September

  Full Moon in PiscesNew Moon in VirgoFull Moon in Aries

  • September 1: Venus turns direct in Leo

• October

  New Moon in LibraFull Moon in Taurus, an eclipse

  • October 3: Uranus turns retrograde in Gemini
  • October 5: Saturn turns retrograde in Gemini
  • October 10: Mars enters Capricorn
  • October 24: Pluto turns direct in Aquarius

• November

  New Moon in Scorpio, an eclipseFull Moon in Gemini

  • November 15: Jupiter enters Capricorn
  • November 19: Mercury turns retrograde in Sagittarius
  • November 20: Mars enters Aquarius

• December

  New Moon in SagittariusFull Moon in Cancer

  • December 9: Mercury turns direct in Scorpio
  • December 24: Neptune turns direct in Aries
  • December 29: Mars enters Pisces

Days are Universal Time’s; each month’s page gives the minute in your own time. Every moment is measured from NASA JPL’s ephemeris.