Retrograde  When a planet is retrograde, it appears to be moving backward across the sky. In reality planets do not reverse their rotation, they only appear that way to us because the Earth is not the center of the solar system. When a planet is at retrograde station, it is at the exact point where it is turning from a forward motion to a reverse motion. When a planet is at direct station, it is at the point where it is turning from a reverse motion to a forward motion. Retrograde and Direct stations are the most difficult during a planets retrograde cycle, because the planet is almost holding still, and figuratively burning a hole in the zodiac.

See Also:

• Retrograde Station
• Direct Station