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In short: Rahu and Ketu, the Moon's nodes, always move backwards and always stand exactly opposite each other. By the mean node — the convention most Indian almanacs and our site use — Rahu has been in sidereal Aquarius and Ketu in Leo since 18 May 2025. On 5 December 2026 Rahu moves into Capricorn and Ketu into Cancer, where they stay until 23 June 2028, when Rahu enters Sagittarius and Ketu Gemini. By the true node the change comes a little earlier, around 25 November 2026. Phaladeepika counts both nodes favourable in the 3rd, 6th and 11th from the Moon.
The dates
| Period (mean node, UTC) | Rahu in | Ketu in |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2025 – 5 Dec 2026 | Aquarius (Kumbha) | Leo (Simha) |
| 5 Dec 2026 – 23 Jun 2028 | Capricorn (Makara) | Cancer (Karka) |
| 23 Jun 2028 – 10 Jan 2030 | Sagittarius (Dhanu) | Gemini (Mithuna) |
In India the December 2026 change falls late on 5 December (about 22:30 UTC+5:30); the June 2028 change falls in the early hours of 24 June UTC+5:30.
Mean or true node? The mean node moves smoothly backwards at about 19.3° a year; the true (osculating) node wobbles around it by up to about 1.5°, occasionally moving forwards for a few days. Most Indian almanacs use the mean node; many Western astrologers and some Vedic software use the true node. With the true node, Rahu enters Capricorn around 25 November 2026 and Sagittarius around 24 May 2028. Neither is wrong — they are different definitions.
In the tropical zodiac (mean node) the North Node entered Aquarius on 18 August 2026 and moves into Capricorn on 7 March 2028.
What the nodes are read for
Rahu is read as appetite, ambition, the foreign and the new — the part of life we chase. Ketu is read as detachment, past skill, spirituality and letting go — the part of life we already know and may undervalue. Their transit through a pair of houses from your Moon is read as an 18-month emphasis on that axis: Rahu where you push forward, Ketu where you step back.
Collectively, Rahu in Capricorn — Saturn's sign of institutions, government and structure — and Ketu in Cancer — the Moon's sign of home, family and feeling — are read as a period in which ambition for status and systems runs high while attachment to the familiar is questioned. Ketu in Cancer is also in the sign where Jupiter is exalted, and Jupiter transits Cancer for part of 2027, a combination some astrologers read as spiritual or reflective.
Sign by sign, from the Moon
Rahu's house first, then Ketu's. ★ marks the classically favourable 3rd, 6th or 11th house.
Aries Moon — Rahu 10th, Ketu 4th. Strong ambition at work and a public push; home life and inner peace ask for attention. Balance career drive with rest.
Taurus Moon — Rahu 9th, Ketu 3rd ★. A pull toward foreign travel, new philosophies or unconventional teachers; Ketu in the 3rd gives quiet courage and skill.
Gemini Moon — Rahu 8th, Ketu 2nd. Research, shared finances and sudden changes are emphasised; care with speech, family and savings helps. A time for prudence, not alarm.
Cancer Moon — Rahu 7th, Ketu 1st. Partnerships take centre stage, sometimes with unconventional people or arrangements; Ketu on your Moon can bring introspection and a sense of detachment. Clear communication matters.
Leo Moon — Rahu 6th ★, Ketu 12th. Rahu in the 6th is read as overcoming competition and obstacles with energy; Ketu in the 12th favours retreat, spiritual practice and letting go of the old.
Virgo Moon — Rahu 5th, Ketu 11th ★. Strong creative and romantic desires, and interest in speculation (which deserves caution); Ketu in the 11th brings gains through quieter, less expected channels.
Libra Moon — Rahu 4th, Ketu 10th. Home, property or a move are emphasised; at work, Ketu can bring a sense of detachment from titles. Look for meaning rather than status.
Scorpio Moon — Rahu 3rd ★, Ketu 9th. Rahu in the 3rd is read as bold initiative, media, communication and enterprise succeeding; Ketu in the 9th questions inherited beliefs.
Sagittarius Moon — Rahu 2nd, Ketu 8th. Ambition around income and family resources; care with words and spending. Ketu in the 8th supports research and inner work.
Capricorn Moon — Rahu 1st, Ketu 7th. Rahu on your Moon heightens ambition and restlessness, and brings a desire to reinvent yourself; Ketu in the 7th asks for patience and clarity in partnership.
Aquarius Moon — Rahu 12th, Ketu 6th ★. Foreign connections, travel and expenses with Rahu; Ketu in the 6th is read as rivals and obstacles fading. Look after sleep and finances as Sade Sati ends.
Pisces Moon — Rahu 11th ★, Ketu 5th. Rahu in the 11th is the classic node transit for gains and widening networks; Ketu in the 5th makes romance and creativity more inward. A helpful counterweight to Sade Sati.
Eclipses on the new axis
Eclipses happen near the nodes, so most of the eclipses of 2027 fall on the Capricorn–Cancer axis in the sidereal zodiac: the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027 is in sidereal Cancer, near Ketu. See eclipses 2026–2027.
FAQ
When does Rahu enter Capricorn? On 5 December 2026 by the mean node (about 17:00 UTC, 22:30 UTC+5:30), or around 25 November 2026 by the true node.
How long do Rahu and Ketu stay in a sign? About 18 to 19 months: the full cycle through the zodiac takes about 18.6 years.
Which Moon signs benefit from this transit? By the classical rule, those for whom Rahu's or Ketu's sign is the 3rd, 6th or 11th from the Moon: Scorpio, Leo and Pisces (Rahu), and Taurus, Aquarius and Virgo (Ketu).
Is Kaal Sarp yoga affected by transits? Kaal Sarp is a natal configuration, and a later, popular one. Transits do not create it in your chart. See Kaal Sarp yoga.
Sources
- Phaladeepika of Mantreswara, ch. 26 (gochara: Rahu and Ketu favourable in the 3rd, 6th and 11th from the Moon)
- Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira, ch. 5 (Rahu and eclipses)
- Node positions — computed with the Sunyra engine: mean node (Meeus 47.7) and true (osculating) node; sidereal Lahiri
Written by Sunyra Editorial. Astrology is a tradition of interpretation; read this as guidance, not a forecast. Disclaimer.
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