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Starlit Journey

Saturn Square Mars: How Long It Lasts

Quick answer

Saturn square Mars usually lasts about nine months with a 1.5° orb, with one or three exact hits; a few degrees get only three or four weeks. From 2026 to 2030 Saturn squares Mars from late Gemini and Sagittarius through Cancer, Capricorn, Leo and Aquarius to early Virgo and Pisces. Mars can be anywhere relative to the Sun, so check your chart.

How long
About 9 months in orb; 3 weeks for a single pass
Exact hits
1 or 3, thanks to Saturn's retrograde loops
Orb
1.5°, the same orb Starlit Journey uses for Saturn
Who's in it now
Mars in late Gemini to early Virgo, or late Sagittarius to early Pisces

Dates by Mars degree

Find your natal Mars degree. Each row shows when Saturn comes within 1.5° of the square, every exact hit (R = while Saturn is retrograde), and when it separates for good. Saturn sometimes drifts just out of orb between passes; those gaps are listed too.

Natal positionIn orb fromExact hitsSeparates
25° Gemini or Sagittarius
In orb fromMar 27, 2025Exact hits
Apr 9, 2025Nov 8, 2025(retrograde)(station)Dec 17, 2025(station)
SeparatesJan 13, 2026
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Apr 22, 2025 – Oct 11, 2025
26° Gemini or Sagittarius
In orb fromApr 5, 2025Exact hits
Apr 18, 2025Oct 18, 2025(retrograde)Jan 6, 2026
SeparatesJan 25, 2026
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
May 2, 2025 – Sep 27, 2025
27° Gemini or Sagittarius
In orb fromApr 13, 2025Exact hits
Apr 27, 2025Oct 4, 2025(retrograde)Jan 19, 2026
SeparatesFeb 4, 2026
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
May 12, 2025 – Sep 14, 2025Oct 27, 2025 – Dec 28, 2025
28° Gemini or Sagittarius
In orb fromApr 22, 2025Exact hits
May 7, 2025Sep 21, 2025(retrograde)Jan 30, 2026
SeparatesFeb 13, 2026
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
May 24, 2025 – Sep 1, 2025Oct 11, 2025 – Jan 13, 2026
29° Gemini or Sagittarius
In orb fromMay 2, 2025Exact hits
May 18, 2025Sep 8, 2025(retrograde)Feb 9, 2026
SeparatesFeb 22, 2026
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jun 9, 2025 – Aug 15, 2025Sep 27, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
0° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMay 12, 2025Exact hits
Jun 1, 2025Aug 24, 2025(retrograde)Feb 18, 2026
SeparatesMar 3, 2026
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Sep 14, 2025 – Feb 4, 2026
1° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMay 24, 2025Exact hits
Jun 20, 2025Aug 4, 2025(retrograde)Feb 26, 2026
SeparatesMar 11, 2026
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Sep 1, 2025 – Feb 13, 2026
2° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromJun 9, 2025Exact hits
Mar 7, 2026
SeparatesMar 19, 2026
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Aug 15, 2025 – Feb 22, 2026
3° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMar 3, 2026Exact hits
Mar 15, 2026
SeparatesMar 27, 2026
1 month
4° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMar 11, 2026Exact hits
Mar 23, 2026
SeparatesApr 4, 2026
1 month
5° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMar 19, 2026Exact hits
Mar 31, 2026
SeparatesApr 12, 2026
1 month
6° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMar 27, 2026Exact hits
Apr 8, 2026
SeparatesDec 19, 2026
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Apr 20, 2026 – Dec 2, 2026
7° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromApr 4, 2026Exact hits
Apr 16, 2026
SeparatesJan 14, 2027
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Apr 29, 2026 – Nov 5, 2026
8° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromApr 12, 2026Exact hits
Apr 25, 2026Nov 15, 2026(retrograde)Jan 4, 2027
SeparatesJan 28, 2027
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
May 8, 2026 – Oct 21, 2026
9° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromApr 20, 2026Exact hits
May 3, 2026Oct 28, 2026(retrograde)Jan 21, 2027
SeparatesFeb 8, 2027
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
May 18, 2026 – Oct 8, 2026
10° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromApr 29, 2026Exact hits
May 13, 2026Oct 14, 2026(retrograde)Feb 3, 2027
SeparatesFeb 18, 2027
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
May 28, 2026 – Sep 25, 2026Nov 5, 2026 – Jan 14, 2027
11° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMay 8, 2026Exact hits
May 23, 2026Oct 1, 2026(retrograde)Feb 14, 2027
SeparatesFeb 28, 2027
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jun 10, 2026 – Sep 11, 2026Oct 21, 2026 – Jan 28, 2027
12° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMay 18, 2026Exact hits
Jun 3, 2026Sep 18, 2026(retrograde)Feb 23, 2027
SeparatesMar 8, 2027
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jun 26, 2026 – Aug 25, 2026Oct 8, 2026 – Feb 8, 2027
13° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMay 28, 2026Exact hits
Jun 17, 2026Sep 3, 2026(retrograde)Mar 4, 2027
SeparatesMar 17, 2027
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Sep 25, 2026 – Feb 18, 2027
14° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromJun 10, 2026Exact hits
Jul 9, 2026(station)Aug 12, 2026(retrograde)(station)Mar 13, 2027
SeparatesMar 25, 2027
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Sep 11, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
15° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromJun 26, 2026Exact hits
Mar 21, 2027
SeparatesApr 2, 2027
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Aug 25, 2026 – Mar 8, 2027
16° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMar 17, 2027Exact hits
Mar 29, 2027
SeparatesApr 10, 2027
1 month
17° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMar 25, 2027Exact hits
Apr 6, 2027
SeparatesApr 18, 2027
1 month
18° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromApr 2, 2027Exact hits
Apr 14, 2027
SeparatesApr 26, 2027
1 month
19° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromApr 10, 2027Exact hits
Apr 22, 2027
SeparatesMay 4, 2027
1 month
20° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromApr 18, 2027Exact hits
Apr 30, 2027
SeparatesJan 25, 2028
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
May 12, 2027 – Nov 20, 2027
21° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromApr 26, 2027Exact hits
May 8, 2027Nov 30, 2027(retrograde)Jan 15, 2028
SeparatesFeb 9, 2028
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
May 21, 2027 – Nov 5, 2027
22° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMay 4, 2027Exact hits
May 17, 2027Nov 12, 2027(retrograde)Feb 2, 2028
SeparatesFeb 20, 2028
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
May 31, 2027 – Oct 23, 2027
23° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMay 12, 2027Exact hits
May 26, 2027Oct 29, 2027(retrograde)Feb 15, 2028
SeparatesMar 1, 2028
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jun 10, 2027 – Oct 10, 2027Nov 20, 2027 – Jan 25, 2028
24° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMay 21, 2027Exact hits
Jun 5, 2027Oct 16, 2027(retrograde)Feb 25, 2028
SeparatesMar 10, 2028
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jun 22, 2027 – Sep 27, 2027Nov 5, 2027 – Feb 9, 2028
25° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMay 31, 2027Exact hits
Jun 16, 2027Oct 3, 2027(retrograde)Mar 6, 2028
SeparatesMar 19, 2028
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jul 8, 2027 – Sep 10, 2027Oct 23, 2027 – Feb 20, 2028
26° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromJun 10, 2027Exact hits
Jun 30, 2027Sep 19, 2027(retrograde)Mar 15, 2028
SeparatesMar 28, 2028
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Oct 10, 2027 – Mar 1, 2028
27° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromJun 22, 2027Exact hits
Jul 19, 2027(station)Aug 30, 2027(retrograde)(station)Mar 23, 2028
SeparatesApr 5, 2028
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Sep 27, 2027 – Mar 10, 2028
28° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromJul 8, 2027Exact hits
Apr 1, 2028
SeparatesApr 12, 2028
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Sep 10, 2027 – Mar 19, 2028
29° Cancer or Capricorn
In orb fromMar 28, 2028Exact hits
Apr 9, 2028
SeparatesApr 20, 2028
1 month
0° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromApr 5, 2028Exact hits
Apr 16, 2028
SeparatesApr 28, 2028
1 month
1° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromApr 12, 2028Exact hits
Apr 24, 2028
SeparatesMay 6, 2028
1 month
2° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromApr 20, 2028Exact hits
May 2, 2028
SeparatesMay 14, 2028
1 month
3° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromApr 28, 2028Exact hits
May 10, 2028
SeparatesJan 30, 2029
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
May 23, 2028 – Dec 10, 2028
4° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromMay 6, 2028Exact hits
May 18, 2028Dec 26, 2028(retrograde)(station)Jan 14, 2029(station)
SeparatesFeb 16, 2029
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
May 31, 2028 – Nov 23, 2028
5° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromMay 14, 2028Exact hits
May 27, 2028Dec 1, 2028(retrograde)Feb 8, 2029
SeparatesFeb 28, 2029
10 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Jun 9, 2028 – Nov 9, 2028
6° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromMay 23, 2028Exact hits
Jun 5, 2028Nov 16, 2028(retrograde)Feb 22, 2029
SeparatesMar 11, 2029
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jun 19, 2028 – Oct 28, 2028Dec 10, 2028 – Jan 30, 2029
7° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromMay 31, 2028Exact hits
Jun 14, 2028Nov 3, 2028(retrograde)Mar 5, 2029
SeparatesMar 20, 2029
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jul 1, 2028 – Oct 15, 2028Nov 23, 2028 – Feb 16, 2029
8° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJun 9, 2028Exact hits
Jun 25, 2028Oct 22, 2028(retrograde)Mar 15, 2029
SeparatesMar 29, 2029
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jul 14, 2028 – Oct 1, 2028Nov 9, 2028 – Feb 28, 2029
9° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJun 19, 2028Exact hits
Jul 7, 2028Oct 8, 2028(retrograde)Mar 25, 2029
SeparatesApr 6, 2029
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Aug 3, 2028 – Sep 10, 2028Oct 28, 2028 – Mar 11, 2029
10° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJul 1, 2028Exact hits
Jul 23, 2028Sep 22, 2028(retrograde)Apr 2, 2029
SeparatesApr 14, 2029
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Oct 15, 2028 – Mar 20, 2029
11° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJul 14, 2028Exact hits
Apr 10, 2029
SeparatesApr 22, 2029
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Oct 1, 2028 – Mar 29, 2029
12° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromAug 3, 2028Exact hits
Apr 18, 2029
SeparatesApr 30, 2029
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Sep 10, 2028 – Apr 6, 2029
13° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromApr 14, 2029Exact hits
Apr 26, 2029
SeparatesMay 8, 2029
1 month
14° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromApr 22, 2029Exact hits
May 4, 2029
SeparatesMay 16, 2029
1 month
15° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromApr 30, 2029Exact hits
May 12, 2029
SeparatesMay 24, 2029
1 month
16° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromMay 8, 2029Exact hits
May 20, 2029
SeparatesJun 1, 2029
1 month
17° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromMay 16, 2029Exact hits
May 28, 2029
SeparatesFeb 19, 2030
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Jun 9, 2029 – Dec 18, 2029
18° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromMay 24, 2029Exact hits
Jun 5, 2029Dec 28, 2029(retrograde)(station)Feb 8, 2030(station)
SeparatesMar 6, 2030
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Jun 18, 2029 – Dec 2, 2029
19° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJun 1, 2029Exact hits
Jun 13, 2029Dec 9, 2029(retrograde)Feb 27, 2030
SeparatesMar 17, 2030
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Jun 27, 2029 – Nov 19, 2029
20° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJun 9, 2029Exact hits
Jun 22, 2029Nov 26, 2029(retrograde)Mar 12, 2030
SeparatesMar 27, 2030
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jul 7, 2029 – Nov 7, 2029Dec 18, 2029 – Feb 19, 2030
21° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJun 18, 2029Exact hits
Jul 2, 2029Nov 13, 2029(retrograde)Mar 22, 2030
SeparatesApr 5, 2030
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jul 19, 2029 – Oct 25, 2029Dec 2, 2029 – Mar 6, 2030
22° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJun 27, 2029Exact hits
Jul 13, 2029Nov 1, 2029(retrograde)Apr 1, 2030
SeparatesApr 14, 2030
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Aug 3, 2029 – Oct 10, 2029Nov 19, 2029 – Mar 17, 2030
23° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJul 7, 2029Exact hits
Jul 26, 2029Oct 18, 2029(retrograde)Apr 10, 2030
SeparatesApr 22, 2030
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Nov 7, 2029 – Mar 27, 2030
24° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromJul 19, 2029Exact hits
Aug 12, 2029Sep 30, 2029(retrograde)Apr 18, 2030
SeparatesApr 30, 2030
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Oct 25, 2029 – Apr 5, 2030
25° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromAug 3, 2029Exact hits
Apr 26, 2030
SeparatesMay 8, 2030
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Oct 10, 2029 – Apr 14, 2030
26° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromSep 1, 2029Exact hits
May 4, 2030
SeparatesMay 16, 2030
8 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Sep 10, 2029 – Apr 22, 2030
27° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromApr 30, 2030Exact hits
May 12, 2030
SeparatesMay 24, 2030
1 month
28° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromMay 8, 2030Exact hits
May 20, 2030
SeparatesMay 31, 2030
1 month
29° Leo or Aquarius
In orb fromMay 16, 2030Exact hits
May 28, 2030
SeparatesJun 8, 2030
1 month
0° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromMay 24, 2030Exact hits
Jun 4, 2030
SeparatesFeb 4, 2031
8 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Jun 16, 2030 – Jan 30, 2031
1° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromMay 31, 2030Exact hits
Jun 12, 2030
SeparatesMar 6, 2031
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Jun 25, 2030 – Dec 30, 2030
2° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromJun 8, 2030Exact hits
Jun 21, 2030Jan 9, 2031(retrograde)Feb 25, 2031
SeparatesMar 21, 2031
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Jul 3, 2030 – Dec 15, 2030
3° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromJun 16, 2030Exact hits
Jun 29, 2030Dec 22, 2030(retrograde)Mar 14, 2031
SeparatesApr 1, 2031
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Jul 13, 2030 – Dec 2, 2030
4° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromJun 25, 2030Exact hits
Jul 8, 2030Dec 9, 2030(retrograde)Mar 27, 2031
SeparatesApr 11, 2031
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Jul 23, 2030 – Nov 20, 2030Dec 30, 2030 – Mar 6, 2031
5° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromJul 3, 2030Exact hits
Jul 18, 2030Nov 26, 2030(retrograde)Apr 6, 2031
SeparatesApr 20, 2031
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Aug 4, 2030 – Nov 7, 2030Dec 15, 2030 – Mar 21, 2031
6° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromJul 13, 2030Exact hits
Jul 29, 2030Nov 14, 2030(retrograde)Apr 16, 2031
SeparatesApr 29, 2031
10 months
Out of orb between passes (2)
Aug 19, 2030 – Oct 23, 2030Dec 2, 2030 – Apr 1, 2031
7° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromJul 23, 2030Exact hits
Aug 11, 2030Oct 31, 2030(retrograde)Apr 25, 2031
SeparatesMay 7, 2031
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Nov 20, 2030 – Apr 11, 2031
8° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromAug 4, 2030Exact hits
Aug 29, 2030(station)Oct 12, 2030(retrograde)(station)May 3, 2031
SeparatesMay 15, 2031
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Nov 7, 2030 – Apr 20, 2031
9° Virgo or Pisces
In orb fromAug 19, 2030Exact hits
May 11, 2031
SeparatesMay 23, 2031
9 months
Out of orb between passes (1)
Oct 23, 2030 – Apr 29, 2031
R Saturn retrograde Saturn stations on this degree (two hits weeks apart) Already past

Dates are US Eastern time, calculated with the Swiss Ephemeris. Each row uses the middle of the degree (5° means 5°30'), so if your Mars sits near the start or end of a degree, your dates shift a little. Starlit Journey calculates them for your exact degree.

How the arc unfolds

  1. Entry

    Saturn comes within 1.5° of squaring your Mars. Effort can meet more resistance than usual.

  2. First exact hit

    The first exact square. A goal can stall long enough for you to see whether it's the right one.

  3. Retrograde pass

    For most degrees Saturn backs up and squares Mars again, another test of the same push.

  4. Last exact hit

    The final exact square. The question is which efforts survived the friction.

  5. Separation

    Saturn moves more than 1.5° past the square. For a Mars at 14° Cancer or Capricorn that's Mar 25, 2027; at 24° Leo or Aquarius, Apr 30, 2030.

What it can ask of you

Saturn is the planet of structure, time and commitment; Mars is drive, ambition, anger and how you go after what you want. A square between them tends to feel like pushing against a wall, asking whether to go around it, through it or somewhere else. Some questions people sit with during this transit:

  • What am I pushing on, and is it worth the effort right now?
  • Where would patience get me further than force?
  • Which goal deserves a real plan instead of a burst of energy?
  • How do I handle frustration when things take longer than I want?
  • Is the resistance I'm feeling a sign to stop, or a sign to prepare better?

None of this predicts what will happen. Saturn square Mars describes a phase and the questions it can raise, not events in anyone's life.

Questions

How long does Saturn square Mars last?

Usually about nine months with a 1.5° orb. Mars at 3° to 5° Cancer or Capricorn gets one exact hit and about three or four weeks, in March and April 2026.

Is Saturn square Mars dangerous?

This page doesn't predict events, and a transit isn't a warning. The square is usually read as frustration and slowed momentum, asking for patience and planning.

Why does it matter that Mars is exalted in Capricorn?

Some astrologers read an exalted Mars as better equipped for Saturn's demands, and a Mars in fall, in Cancer, as needing more care. The dates are the same either way.

What orb does this page use?

1.5°, the orb Starlit Journey uses for Saturn. Some sites use wider orbs, which is why you'll see longer durations quoted elsewhere.

How do I find my exact dates?

Find your Mars sign and degree in your natal chart, then the matching row above. For dates to the exact minute of arc, Starlit Journey maps this transit, and every other active transit, against your own chart.

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Your exact degree

Starlit Journey maps every active transit in your chart as a full arc, from entry to separation. The positions and dates come from the Swiss Ephemeris; the plain-language notes on each phase are written by AI, and labeled that way. 21 days free.

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AIThe dates on this page are calculated, not written: they come from the Swiss Ephemeris. The explanatory text was drafted with AI and reviewed by a person.

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Read: How long a transit period lasts, phase by phase →Read: Saturn stations direct December 10, 2026 →