Sky now

The sky, right now

Today the Moon is in Scorpio.

Above the horizon where you are right now: Saturn, Neptune and Pluto.

Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune look like they're moving backwards (FootnoteRetrogradeWhen a planet appears to move backwards across the sky. A time to review rather than rush ahead.Read more →). They aren't really: it's how they look from the moving Earth. The slow, far-off planets do this for months every year, so several at once is normal.

AndromedaEagleRamCharioteerHerdsmanGreat DogCassiopeiaCentaurWhaleSwanEridanusTwinsLionOrionPegasusPerseusArcherScorpionBullBig DipperVirginSunMoonMercuryVenusMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptunePlutoNESW✦ Polaris

Tap a planet or a bright star to see what it is.

How to read this map

Everything inside the gold line is above you. The dashed line is the path the Sun, Moon and planets travel (the FootnoteZodiacThe band of sky the Sun, Moon and planets travel through, divided into twelve equal signs.Read more →). The map turns with the real sky.

Planisphere for 40°N · stars to magnitude 4.8

Moon calendar

How much of the Moon is lit each night this month, and which sign it's in.

See the month
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November 2071

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Tap a day to see the Moon's sign and mood.

Times are in GMT.

New and full Moons

The dark Moon and the full Moon this month, and what each is good for. Add your birth details to see which part of your life each one lights up.

Buddhist holy days, set by the Moon

Many Buddhists keep the new, full and half Moons as holy days for extra quiet and practice. In the Theravada tradition they are called uposatha. Exact days vary by country and calendar.

Full Moon

FootnoteFull MoonWhen the Moon is opposite the Sun and fully lit. A time when things come to a head.Read more → in Taurus

Sat 7 Nov, 18:47

A time to finish, release and take stock.

Notice one moment of kindness you received recently, and let yourself really take it in.

New Moon

FootnoteNew MoonWhen the Moon sits between Earth and Sun and can't be seen. Traditionally a time to begin things.Read more → in Scorpio

Sat 21 Nov, 19:00

A time to set intentions and start small.

Before speaking today, ask: is it true, is it kind, is it helpful, is it the right time?

Retrogrades in 2071

When each planet looks like it's moving backwards this year.

See the dates

A retrograde is when a planet looks like it's moving backwards. The planet isn't reversing. From Earth, it only looks that way for a while, the way a slower car seems to slip backwards as you pass it.

Neptune
Saturn
Mercury
Uranus
Pluto
Venus
Jupiter
Mars

Solid bars are retrograde now, outlined ones are still to come, grey ones are over. Hover, tap or tab to a bar.

Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were found after ancient astrology was written down, so their meanings come from modern tradition. Each outer planet is retrograde for about five months every year, so their retrogrades are gentle background, not headline events.

Coming up

Neptune retrograde

15 Oct 2070 to 21 Mar 2071 · runs past 2071, so the bar is cut at the edge

Backs up from Cancer 13°13′ to Cancer 10°24′.

What it can mean

The fog thins a little. A time to see things more clearly.

Neptune, another modern planet, is associated with dreams, ideals and imagination, and also with confusion. Its retrograde is usually read as a time when illusions are easier to spot. People often use it to check whether a hope is grounded and to make room for creative work.

All dates as a list
  • Neptune retrograde, 15 Oct 2070 to 21 Mar
  • Saturn retrograde, 9 Feb to 27 Jun
  • Mercury retrograde, 16 Mar to 8 Apr
  • Uranus retrograde, 1 Apr to 2 Sept
  • Pluto retrograde, 5 Jul to 17 Dec
  • Venus retrograde, 8 Jul to 21 Aug
  • Mercury retrograde, 19 Jul to 12 Aug
  • Jupiter retrograde, 24 Sept to 20 Jan 2072
  • Neptune retrograde, 18 Oct to 22 Mar 2072
  • Mercury retrograde, 11 Nov to 30 Nov
  • Mars retrograde, 2 Dec to 18 Feb 2072