The 10 Planets in Astrology and What They Mean
Astrology uses ten bodies, counting the Sun and Moon as 'planets'. They fall into three groups by speed.
- Personal planets (Sun–Mars): fast-moving, describing individual character.
- Social planets (Jupiter, Saturn): how you grow and meet responsibility in society.
- Generational planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto): shared by whole generations; read via house and aspects.
| Sun | Moves through all 12 signs in about a year |
|---|---|
| Moon | About 2.5 days per sign; full cycle in ~27 days |
| Mercury | About a year per cycle; retrograde ~3 times a year |
| Venus | About a year per cycle; retrograde every ~18 months |
| Mars | About 2 years per cycle |
| Jupiter | About 12 years; ~1 year per sign |
| Saturn | About 29 years; ~2.5 years per sign |
| Uranus | About 84 years; ~7 years per sign |
| Neptune | About 165 years; ~14 years per sign |
| Pluto | About 248 years |
What is retrograde?
At times a planet appears to move backwards through the zodiac as seen from Earth—this is retrograde motion (℞). It is an optical effect of differing orbital speeds. A planet retrograde at birth is often read as working inwardly.