Free Astrology Calculator
Mars Return Calculator
Mars comes back to the degree it held at your birth about every two years. Enter your birth date to see your next Mars returns and every pass when Mars is retrograde over your degree.
Quick Answer
Mars returns to its birth degree about every two years. Mars is retrograde from January 10, 2027 to April 1, 2027, across 20°55' Leo to 10°25' Virgo. Anyone born with Mars in that stretch of the zodiac has a return exact three times.
Mars Retrograde in 2026 and 2027
Anyone born with Mars between the two degrees has a return exact three times around these dates.
| Retrograde | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Jan 10, 2027 to Apr 1, 2027 | 20°55' Leo to 10°25' Virgo |
What a Mars Return Is
A Mars return is the moment Mars reaches its position in your birth chart again. Mars takes about 22 months to circle the zodiac as seen from Earth, so returns come roughly every two years, a little more often when Mars is moving quickly.
Mars describes drive, courage and how we act on what we want. Its return marks the start of another two-year cycle of effort, and invites you to notice where your energy goes, and whether it goes where you intend.
Mars Retrograde and Your Return
Every two years or so Mars turns retrograde for about ten weeks. If your natal Mars lies inside that loop, the return is exact three times over several months and the cycle takes longer to begin.
How This Calculator Works
Without a birth time, Mars is placed where it stood at noon on your birth date. Mars moves up to about 45 arcminutes a day, so dates can move by a day or two. The calculator recalculates for the first and last minute of your birth day and tells you how far the dates can move.
Positions come from the engine behind every Selfgazer chart: VSOP87 planetary theory through Astronomy Engine, with Chiron from Swiss Ephemeris tables. Against the Swiss Ephemeris the planets agree to within half an arcminute. Each pass is found by scanning the planet's path and narrowing every crossing of your natal degree to the minute, with a finer scan around each station so a brief touch before the planet turns is not missed. Your birth time is converted with your birthplace's historical time zone rules.
Mars Return Questions
How Often Does a Mars Return Happen?
About every 22 months, or roughly every two years. When Mars is retrograde over your natal degree the return is exact three times over a few months.
Do I Need My Birth Time?
Your birth date is enough for dates within a day or two. The time makes Mars's degree exact.