2026 Mars Retrograde Periods
No Mars retrograde periods found for 2026
Mars retrogrades approximately every 2 years for about 72 days. Hence, no retrograde found for Mars in 2026.
From Ancient Texts
Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra 3.29
कुजस्य वक्रगतौ युद्धे कार्ये च विलम्बः भवेत्।
शौर्ये तेजसि च दोषं जनयति॥
kujasya vakragatau yuddhe kārye ca vilambaḥ bhavet
śaurye tejasi ca doṣaṃ janayati
"During Mars's retrograde motion, delays occur in battles and actions. It produces defects in courage and vitality."
— Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra, Chapter 3, Verse 29
What Actually Happens
Every two years. Mars reverses.
Mars orbits outside Earth's path. Its year is 687 days—almost two Earth years. Earth orbits faster, completing its lap in 365 days. So every 26 months, Earth catches up with Mars and passes it. During that pass, Mars appears to slow, stop, move backward through the zodiac for about 80 days, then resume forward motion.
This is celestial geometry. When the faster inner planet (Earth) overtakes the slower outer planet (Mars), relative motion creates the retrograde illusion. Same principle as passing a truck on the highway—it seems to move backward when you speed past.
Ancient astronomers documented this pattern. Called it vakragati. Sūrya Siddhānta provides the mathematical framework: retrograde begins when apparent longitudinal velocity becomes negative. Not mysticism. Observation and calculation.
Modern calculation:
Velocity: +0.5°/day → 0.0°/day → -0.3°/day → 0.0°/day → +0.5°/day
NASA JPL DE440/441 data + Lahiri Ayanāṃśa. Duration: ~70-80 days. Frequency: ~26 months (every 2 years).
The rishis calculated this millennia before telescopes. Naked-eye tracking. Multi-generational record-keeping. The math still works.
Mars's Retrograde Pattern
Mars retrogrades every 26 months—roughly every two years. Each retrograde lasts about 70-80 days, significantly longer than Mercury's three-week periods but shorter than Saturn's four-and-a-half-month retrogrades.
Average Duration
~75 days
~10-11 weeks per retrograde
Frequency
26 mo
~2 years between periods
Zodiac Coverage
~15°
Backward motion arc
In 2026
0
retrograde period(s)
Mars is unique among the visible planets. Because it orbits outside Earth's path, its retrograde behavior differs from Mercury and Venus (which orbit inside). When Mars retrogrades, it's always on the opposite side of the sky from the Sun—visible around midnight. This makes Mars retrogrades easier to observe.
Ancient observers noticed Mars brightens dramatically during retrograde. Why? Earth passes Mars at its closest approach (opposition). Distance shrinks from 400 million km to 55 million km. Brightness increases tenfold. The red planet dominates the night sky.
The Calculation
Per classical astronomy, Mars's retrograde begins when its geocentric longitudinal speed crosses zero. Forward motion stops. Backward motion begins. That's the rule. Simple. Observable. Deterministic.
Modern calculations use NASA JPL planetary ephemerides (DE440/441)—the same data that navigates spacecraft to Mars. Apply Lahiri Ayanāṃśa to align with Jyotish's sidereal framework. The results match ancient observations within seconds.
Cross-reference with historical records from multiple traditions. Babylonian tablets. Greek astronomical texts. Indian Siddhāntas. They converge. Mars's retrograde pattern has been stable for millennia.
How Jyotish Reads This
Mars governs action, courage, conflict, physical energy, competition, and drive. When retrograde, these energies turn inward or encounter obstacles. Existing projects get reviewed. Past conflicts resurface. Aggressive momentum slows.
Think of it: forward Mars initiates action and confronts obstacles directly. Retrograde Mars reassesses strategy and redirects force. One attacks. The other reconsiders the battlefield.
→Starting military action or litigation? Delay if possible. Defending existing position? That can work.
→Launching competitive ventures? Wait. Refining existing strategy or product? Good timing.
→Major surgery (elective)? Practitioners often avoid retrograde Mars. Necessary procedures proceed.
→Physical training or athletics? Injury risk increases. Focus on recovery and technique over pushing limits.
→Property disputes or real estate battles? Progress stalls. Resolution takes longer than expected.
For Muhurat—choosing dates—many avoid Mars retrograde for marriage (Mars rules the partner's energy), surgery, property purchases, and competitive launches. But skilled practitioners examine the full chart. Context matters. Sometimes other factors override retrograde concerns.
The pattern: retrograde shifts from "attack" to "reassess." From "initiate conflict" to "review strategy." From "push forward" to "consolidate position." The warrior energy inverts—still present, differently directed.