Sky Today
What Sign Is Mars in Right Now? Is Mars Retrograde?
Quick Answer
Mars is in Leo right now, at 6°23' Leo as of October 9, 2026 at 04:41 UTC. Mars entered Leo on September 27, 2026 at 10:49 PM ET (02:49 UTC on September 28) and stays until November 25, 2026 at 6:37 PM ET (23:37 UTC), when it moves into Virgo. Mars is direct, not retrograde.
Computed October 9, 2026 at 04:41 UTC. This page regenerates every 15 minutes.
This is the first of two passes through Leo. Mars leaves for Virgo on November 25, backs into Leo during its retrograde on February 21, 2027, and is done with the sign on May 14, 2027.
Jupiter is in Leo too, and the two meet exactly on November 16. A burst of confidence and ambition. Big moves get started. Next up: Mars squares Venus on October 10. What you want and how you go after it pull apart. Sparks fly in flirting and in fights.
Mars Right Now
| Body | Position | Motion | In Sign Since | Next Sign Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars | 6°23'42" Leo | Direct | into Virgo |
What Mars in Leo Means
Mars represents drive, desire, anger, courage, competition, and physical energy. In Leo, those themes take on a warm, expressive, proud, and creative quality. Mars's sign shows where collective effort and friction go. A Mars retrograde traditionally redirects action inward and slows new initiatives.
Mars spends about six to seven weeks in a sign. Roughly every 26 months it turns retrograde for about ten to eleven weeks, which can hold it in one sign or a pair of signs for six months or more.
Read the full interpretation in Mars in Leo: Traits and Meaning, or start with Mars in astrology.
Is Mars Retrograde?
Mars retrograde is traditionally associated with redirecting effort and anger, with slower progress on new initiatives.
No. Mars is direct as of October 9, 2026 at 04:41 UTC. Its next retrograde begins on January 10, 2027 at 8:00 AM ET (13:00 UTC) at 10°25' Virgo and ends on April 1, 2027.
| Stations Retrograde | Stations Direct | Signs | Shadow Period |
|---|---|---|---|
6°10' Leo | 17°00' Cancer | Leo, Cancer | to |
10°25' Virgo | 20°55' Leo | Virgo, Leo | to |
Full dates by year: Mars retrograde 2026 and Mars retrograde 2027.
Mars Sign Changes 2026 to 2027
Exact ingress times, including retrograde re-entries into the previous sign.
Mars's Aspects in the Next 30 Days
| Date | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Venus square Mars | What you want and how you go after it pull apart. Sparks fly in flirting and in fights. | |
| Mars trine Saturn | Disciplined effort. Good for hard jobs that need stamina and control. | |
| Mercury square Mars | Short fuses in conversation. Words land harder than intended. |
The Rest of the Sky
Questions About Mars Today
What Sign Is Mars in Right Now?
Mars is in Leo right now, at 6°23' Leo as of October 9, 2026 at 04:41 UTC. Mars entered Leo on September 27, 2026 at 10:49 PM ET (02:49 UTC on September 28) and stays until November 25, 2026 at 6:37 PM ET (23:37 UTC), when it moves into Virgo. Mars is direct, not retrograde.
Is Mars Retrograde Right Now?
No. Mars is direct as of October 9, 2026 at 04:41 UTC. Its next retrograde begins on January 10, 2027 at 8:00 AM ET (13:00 UTC) at 10°25' Virgo and ends on April 1, 2027.
When Is the Next Mars Retrograde?
The next Mars retrograde begins on January 10, 2027 at 8:01 AM ET (13:01 UTC) at 10°25' Virgo and ends on April 1, 2027 at 10:11 AM ET (14:11 UTC) at 20°55' Leo. The shadow period runs from November 5, 2026 to June 8, 2027.
What Does Mars in Leo Mean?
Mars represents drive, desire, anger, courage, competition, and physical energy. In Leo, those themes take on a warm, expressive, proud, and creative quality. Mars's sign shows where collective effort and friction go. A Mars retrograde traditionally redirects action inward and slows new initiatives.
How Long Does Mars Stay in Each Sign?
Mars spends about six to seven weeks in a sign. Roughly every 26 months it turns retrograde for about ten to eleven weeks, which can hold it in one sign or a pair of signs for six months or more.
Why Do Some Sites List a Different Date for This Sign Change?
Most astrology sites print a single date without a time zone. An ingress at 10:49 PM in New York is already the next day in London and Sydney, so two correct sources can disagree by a day. Selfgazer gives every time in both US Eastern time and UTC, and the tables switch to your own time zone in the browser.
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