If all your free time has been consumed by the Artemis II mission and how endearing and emotional it, and the four-astronaut crew, has been, there’s a perfectly logical explanation as to why. Yes, we all undoubtedly needed this Moon Joy, but beyond that, you can actually thank astrology (and astronomy, of course) for the newfound space obsession.

Allow me to explain: Over the past year and a half, astrology has been encouraging a society-wide interest in all things space, which is exactly the time we've seen a rising interest in space travel (like the Artemis II), space tourism (looking at you, Blue Origin flight), and blockbuster space movies like Project Hail Mary. There's a simple astrological reason for this phenomenon: Pluto in Aquarius.

What does Pluto in Aquarius mean in astrology?

Pluto is the slowest-moving planet (yes, astrology still classifies Pluto as a real planet, not a dwarf planet), spending up to 32 years in a single sign. In astrology, the planet is associated with transformation, renewal, and obsession—exactly like our new society-wide obsession with all things space.

And then there's the Aquarius part. The air sign is associated with technology, science, and a quest for knowledge, and according to some people, even an interest in aliens. Put it all together, and Pluto in Aquarius signals an obsession with all things space, as well as a potential transformation in the field of space travel.

"When Pluto officially moved into Aquarius, we had a brand new mindset," astrologer Lisa Stardust tells Cosmopolitan. "Aquarius is a sign of outer space travel, as well as aliens and conspiracy theories. So that's why it would fit together that we're kind of obsessed with space right now."

What will happen during Pluto in Aquarius?

Between March 2023 and November 2024, Pluto moved back and forth between Capricorn and Aquarius as it went through Pluto Retrograde. (Things that happened during this time: astronauts got "stuck" on the ISS, NASA released its first UFO report, and several Star Wars spinoffs premiered.) Finally, Pluto moved into Aquarius for good on November 19, 2024. (Things that happened between then and now: the Blue Origin flight, Project Hail Mary, Artemis II.)

Pluto will stay in Aquarius until March 8, 2043, meaning that we can expect about another 17 years of space obsession. In the meantime, Stardust says that when the North Node moves into Aquarius on July 26, "we'll see people become more involved with studying outer space as we shift into a more scientific way of thinking."

Coming up this summer: Disclosure Day (and the conspiracy theories around it) will get us all talking about aliens, Griffin-1 could deliver a new rover to the Moon, and NASA's SunRISE program will study solar activity. Longer-term events that could happen during this transit could include new advances in space travel, a rise in space tourism, and a growth in knowledge about the universe.

What happened the last time Pluto was in Aquarius?

The last time Pluto was in Aquarius was before any of us were alive: 1777 to 1798, near the peak of the Age of Enlightenment. This period saw revolution on earth but also major advances in scientific knowledge, especially relating to space. This includes Charles Messier's extensive astronomical catalog, the discovery of Uranus via telescope in 1781, and the first hot air balloon flight in 1783 (a precursor to space travel).

Before that, Pluto was in Aquarius from 1532-1553. During this period, Nicolaus Copernicus premiered his theory that the Earth revolves around the Sun with a paper published in 1543, launching the Scientific Revolution. Also in this period, pioneering astronomer Tycho Brahe was born in 1546. He'd go on to document his observations of supernovas and comets, revolutionizing the way people thought about the universe.

In short, we can expect major breakthroughs in scientific knowledge in the next 17 years, especially as it relates to space. If we're going to discover aliens, now would be an astrologically appropriate time to do so — at least until the next time Pluto moves into Aquarius, over 200 years from now.