The lunar nodes · 2026 to 2028
The North Node in Aquarius: from me to we
The Moon's North Node slipped back into Aquarius on July 27, 2026 and stays until March 26, 2028. The South Node sits opposite in Leo. Here is what that means for your chart, worked out to the minute.
Urania's Mirror, London 1824 · Library of Congress
At a glance
The North Node is in Aquarius from July 27, 2026 to March 26, 2028 (true node), or August 18, 2026 to March 7, 2028 (mean node).
- Enters Aquarius
- Jul 27, 2026, 00:48 UTCtrue node; Jul 26 evening in the US
- Leaves for Capricorn
- Mar 26, 2028, 16:03 UTCtrue node
- Mean node
- Aug 18, 2026 to Mar 7, 2028
- Today
- 28°02′ Aquariustrue node, Oct 18, 2026
- South Node
- Leothe opposite point, same dates
- Last time
- 2008 to 2009mean node
Find your North Node houseBirth date, time and place. Free, no sign-up.
What is happening
The Moon's crossing point just changed signs
Try this today
- Find your rising sign's page in the table below to see your two houses.
- Use the calculator to find your natal North Node and nodal return dates.
- Enter any Aquarius or Leo degree in your chart into the degree finder.
Twice a month the Moon crosses the Sun's path. The point where it heads north is the North Node; the point where it heads south is the South Node. They are not planets, just two places in space, and they slide slowly backward around the zodiac, one full lap every 18.6 years.
On Jul 27, 2026, 00:48 UTC the true North Node backed out of Pisces and into Aquarius. The South Node moved into Leo at the same moment. They will spend about 20 months there.
In astrology the North Node is the growth edge: the unfamiliar direction that stretches you. The South Node is the comfortable habit. With Aquarius on the North side and Leo on the South, the collective story is easy to say out loud: less solo spotlight, more shared purpose. Less "look at me", more "look at what we made".
In your own chart it lands in two specific houses, and those houses are the interesting part.
Why dates disagree
True node or mean node? Both, side by side
You will see two different start dates online, and both can be right. The mean node is a smoothed average that marches steadily backward at about 3 minutes of arc a day. The true node follows the Moon's real, wobbling orbit, so it can stall, step forward, and run up to about 2° ahead of or behind the mean.
This time the true node got to Aquarius first: Jul 27, 2026 against Aug 18, 2026 for the mean node, a gap of 23 days. On the way out the order flips, mean node Mar 7, 2028, true node Mar 26, 2028.
The true node also lingered near 29° Aquarius after it arrived. On Aug 1, 2026 it was at 29°49′ Aquarius, and a month later at 29°48′ Aquarius: barely moved. The monthly table below shows the whole path.
The sky behind it
Mean node: Meeus, Astronomical Algorithms (2nd ed.), eq. 47.7. True node: the ascending node of the Moon's osculating geocentric orbit from NASA JPL DE442, computed with Skyfield, ecliptic and equinox of date. Our positions agree with Swiss Ephemeris to within 0.01° on Jul 1, 2026, Jan 1, 2027, Sep 1, 2027.
The other end
The South Node in Leo: the spotlight you can put down
Try this today
- Name one place where you perform when you could simply participate.
- Give someone else credit, in public, this week.
- Turn a solo project into something others can join.
Leo is warmth, pride, creativity and the joy of being seen. As the South Node sign, it describes something we already do well, maybe too well: performing, needing the applause, making it about one heroic person.
Nothing here says stop shining. The South Node is where a skill becomes a reflex. The invitation of the Leo-Aquarius axis is to bring that warmth to a group: lead the team instead of starring in the show, make the art for a community, celebrate other people loudly.
If you have planets in Leo, the South Node passes over them during this stay. That is often described as a time to release an old role tied to that planet.
Nodal returns
Born in 2008 or 1989? This is your nodal return
Try this today
- Look back at what you were doing 18.6 years ago and notice the echoes.
- Write one sentence about the direction you want for the next 18 years.
- Check the calculator for your next return date and put it in your calendar.
Every 18.6 years the nodes come back to where they were when you were born. That is your nodal return, at about ages 18 to 19, 37, 56 and 74. Halfway between comes the nodal reversal, when the North Node sits on your natal South Node.
The mean North Node was last in Aquarius from January 8, 2008 to July 27, 2009, and before that from May 29, 1989 to December 16, 1990. If your birthday falls in either window, this stay is your first or second nodal return. People born when the node was in Leo (it is opposite, roughly nine years after each Aquarius stay) are having a nodal reversal.
Astrologers often describe nodal returns as moments of re-direction: a fresh look at where you are heading. The calculator gives your own dates.
Eclipses
The eclipses follow the nodes
Eclipses only happen when a new or full Moon lands near the nodes, so while the axis sits in Aquarius and Leo, most eclipses land in those signs. During this stay there are 2 solar eclipses in Aquarius and 2 in Leo. The tightest one, closest to the nodal axis, is the solar eclipse of Aug 2, 2027, 10:05 UTC at 9°55′ Leo, only 1.6° from the node. That is the eclipse of August 2, 2027, whose path of totality crosses North Africa and the Middle East.
The Aquarius eclipses light up your North Node house, the Leo one your South Node house. Your rising page lists which house each eclipse falls in.
North Node calculator
Your North Node, its house, and your nodal returns
Enter your birth details to find your natal North Node (mean node), the whole-sign house it falls in, every nodal return and reversal of your life, and the house the 2026 Aquarius node crosses for you. Then try the degree finder for any point you have in Aquarius or Leo.
Degree finder
Pick a point in your chart in Aquarius or Leo: your Sun, Moon, Venus, Ascendant, anything you know the degree of.
The North Node reaches 15°00′ Aquarius on May 19, 2027.
The node moves backward about 3 minutes of arc a day, so allow a week or two either side.
More to read
Shorter reads. Each opens in place.
By rising sign
How to read it for your chart
Find your rising sign. Count from it to Aquarius: that is your North Node house. Leo, six signs away, is your South Node house. Each rising sign has its own page below with the houses, eclipses and a degree finder.
A gentle note
This is a mirror, not a forecast
The nodes are a tradition for reflection. They describe a direction many people find meaningful, not guaranteed events. If something big is going on in your life, talk to people you trust and the right professionals; the sky can wait.
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North Node in Aquarius, computed
Your two houses by rising sign, the node's path month by month, the eclipses of the stay, and every Aquarius visit since 1914.
| Rising sign | North Node in Aquarius | South Node in Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Aries rising | 11th: friends, groups and hopes | 5th: romance, creativity and play |
| Taurus rising | 10th: career, reputation and public life | 4th: home, family and roots |
| Gemini rising | 9th: travel, study and belief | 3rd: communication, siblings and short trips |
| Cancer rising | 8th: shared resources, trust and intimacy | 2nd: income, possessions and values |
| Leo rising | 7th: partners and one-to-one relationships | 1st: self, body and first impressions |
| Virgo rising | 6th: daily work, routine and wellbeing | 12th: rest, retreat and the inner life |
| Libra rising | 5th: romance, creativity and play | 11th: friends, groups and hopes |
| Scorpio rising | 4th: home, family and roots | 10th: career, reputation and public life |
| Sagittarius rising | 3rd: communication, siblings and short trips | 9th: travel, study and belief |
| Capricorn rising | 2nd: income, possessions and values | 8th: shared resources, trust and intimacy |
| Aquarius rising | 1st: self, body and first impressions | 7th: partners and one-to-one relationships |
| Pisces rising | 12th: rest, retreat and the inner life | 6th: daily work, routine and wellbeing |
| When (UTC) | Node | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 27, 2026, 00:48 UTC | True | Pisces | Aquarius |
| Aug 18, 2026, 19:24 UTC | Mean | Pisces | Aquarius |
| Mar 7, 2028, 08:11 UTC | Mean | Aquarius | Capricorn |
| Mar 26, 2028, 16:03 UTC | True | Aquarius | Capricorn |
| Date | True node | Mean node | True South Node |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2026 | 3°36′ Pisces | 4°10′ Pisces | 3°36′ Virgo |
| Jul 1, 2026 | 0°53′ Pisces | 2°35′ Pisces | 0°53′ Virgo |
| Aug 1, 2026 | 29°49′ Aquarius | 0°57′ Pisces | 29°49′ Leo |
| Sep 1, 2026 | 29°48′ Aquarius | 29°18′ Aquarius | 29°48′ Leo |
| Oct 1, 2026 | 29°09′ Aquarius | 27°43′ Aquarius | 29°09′ Leo |
| Nov 1, 2026 | 26°56′ Aquarius | 26°04′ Aquarius | 26°56′ Leo |
| Dec 1, 2026 | 23°51′ Aquarius | 24°29′ Aquarius | 23°51′ Leo |
| Jan 1, 2027 | 21°27′ Aquarius | 22°50′ Aquarius | 21°27′ Leo |
| Feb 1, 2027 | 20°36′ Aquarius | 21°12′ Aquarius | 20°36′ Leo |
| Mar 1, 2027 | 20°23′ Aquarius | 19°43′ Aquarius | 20°23′ Leo |
| Apr 1, 2027 | 19°19′ Aquarius | 18°05′ Aquarius | 19°19′ Leo |
| May 1, 2027 | 16°45′ Aquarius | 16°29′ Aquarius | 16°45′ Leo |
| Jun 1, 2027 | 13°44′ Aquarius | 14°51′ Aquarius | 13°44′ Leo |
| Jul 1, 2027 | 11°55′ Aquarius | 13°15′ Aquarius | 11°55′ Leo |
| Aug 1, 2027 | 11°29′ Aquarius | 11°37′ Aquarius | 11°29′ Leo |
| Sep 1, 2027 | 11°21′ Aquarius | 9°58′ Aquarius | 11°21′ Leo |
| Oct 1, 2027 | 9°52′ Aquarius | 8°23′ Aquarius | 9°52′ Leo |
| Nov 1, 2027 | 6°35′ Aquarius | 6°45′ Aquarius | 6°35′ Leo |
| Dec 1, 2027 | 3°37′ Aquarius | 5°09′ Aquarius | 3°37′ Leo |
| Jan 1, 2028 | 2°25′ Aquarius | 3°31′ Aquarius | 2°25′ Leo |
| Feb 1, 2028 | 2°18′ Aquarius | 1°52′ Aquarius | 2°18′ Leo |
| Mar 1, 2028 | 1°35′ Aquarius | 0°20′ Aquarius | 1°35′ Leo |
| Apr 1, 2028 | 29°10′ Capricorn | 28°42′ Capricorn | 29°10′ Cancer |
| When (UTC) | Eclipse | Degree | Nearest node |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2026, 17:37 UTC | Solar | 20°02′ Leo | South Node, 9.8° away |
| Aug 28, 2026, 04:13 UTC | Lunar (partial) | 4°51′ Pisces | North Node, 5° away |
| Feb 6, 2027, 15:56 UTC | Solar | 17°38′ Aquarius | North Node, 2.9° away |
| Feb 20, 2027, 23:13 UTC | Lunar (penumbral) | 1°59′ Virgo | South Node, 11.4° away |
| Jul 18, 2027, 16:03 UTC | Lunar (penumbral) | 25°58′ Capricorn | North Node, 15.5° away |
| Aug 2, 2027, 10:05 UTC | Solar | 9°55′ Leo | South Node, 1.6° away |
| Aug 17, 2027, 07:14 UTC | Lunar (penumbral) | 24°04′ Aquarius | North Node, 12.5° away |
| Jan 12, 2028, 04:13 UTC | Lunar (partial) | 21°34′ Cancer | South Node, 10.8° away |
| Jan 26, 2028, 15:13 UTC | Solar | 6°11′ Aquarius | North Node, 3.8° away |
| Enters Aquarius | Leaves Aquarius |
|---|---|
| Dec 15, 1914 | Jul 3, 1916 |
| Jul 26, 1933 | Feb 12, 1935 |
| Mar 6, 1952 | Sep 23, 1953 |
| Oct 16, 1970 | May 6, 1972 |
| May 29, 1989 | Dec 16, 1990 |
| Jan 8, 2008 | Jul 27, 2009 |
| Aug 19, 2026 | Mar 7, 2028 |
| Mar 30, 2045 | Oct 17, 2046 |
| Date | Mean (ours) | Mean (Swiss) | True (ours) | True (Swiss) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2026 | 332.5846 | 332.5869 | 330.8751 | 330.8703 |
| Jan 1, 2027 | 322.8411 | 322.844 | 321.4562 | 321.4576 |
| Sep 1, 2027 | 309.9733 | 309.9772 | 311.3504 | 311.3487 |
All times are UTC. In the Americas the local date can be a day earlier; in Asia and Australia a day later.
Quick answers
When does the North Node enter Aquarius in 2026?
The true North Node entered Aquarius on Jul 27, 2026, 00:48 UTC, which was the evening of July 26 in the Americas. The mean node followed on Aug 18, 2026, 19:24 UTC.
How long is the North Node in Aquarius?
About 20 months. The true node leaves for Capricorn on Mar 26, 2028, 16:03 UTC; the mean node on Mar 7, 2028, 08:11 UTC.
Is the North Node in Aquarius right now?
Yes. On Oct 18, 2026 the true North Node is at 28°02′ Aquarius and the mean node at 26°47′ Aquarius. The South Node is at 28°02′ Leo.
Should I use the true node or the mean node?
Both are real calculations. The mean node smooths out the Moon's wobble and always moves backward; the true node follows the actual orbit and sometimes pauses or steps forward. Many modern astrologers use the true node, many traditional ones the mean node. Pick one and stay consistent.
How do I find which house my North Node is in?
Enter your birth date, time and place in the calculator above. It finds your natal North Node and, using your rising sign, the whole-sign house it occupies. Without a birth time you get the sign but not the house.
When is my nodal return?
Your first nodal return comes at about age 18.6, then about 37.2, 55.8 and 74.4. The calculator gives your exact dates from the mean node.
Who has a nodal return in 2026 to 2028?
Anyone born with the North Node in Aquarius. With the mean node that is roughly Jan 8, 2008 to Jul 27, 2009 and May 29, 1989 to Dec 16, 1990, so many people born in 2008-09 or 1989-90.
Is the South Node in Leo bad?
No. The South Node marks familiar habits, not punishment. With it in Leo the review is about pride, performance and needing applause, while the Aquarius North Node points toward community and shared goals.
