Mercury retrograde: calendar and countdown
Three or four times a year Mercury seems to move backwards across the sky for about three weeks. These are the exact dates of each period, calculated to the minute.
Mercury retrograde 2025
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) |
|---|---|
| Mar 15, 02:47 · 9°35′ Aries | Apr 7, 07:06 · 26°49′ Pisces |
| Jul 18, 00:39 · 15°34′ Leo | Aug 11, 03:33 · 4°14′ Leo |
| Nov 9, 14:00 · 6°51′ Sagittarius | Nov 29, 12:39 · 20°42′ Scorpio |
Mercury retrograde 2026
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) |
|---|---|
| Feb 26, 01:47 · 22°33′ Pisces | Mar 20, 15:35 · 8°29′ Pisces |
| Jun 29, 13:37 · 26°15′ Cancer | Jul 23, 18:57 · 16°19′ Cancer |
| Oct 24, 03:16 · 20°58′ Scorpio | Nov 13, 10:52 · 5°02′ Scorpio |
Mercury retrograde 2027
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) |
|---|---|
| Feb 9, 12:36 · 5°58′ Pisces | Mar 3, 07:35 · 20°55′ Aquarius |
| Jun 10, 14:19 · 6°21′ Cancer | Jul 4, 15:40 · 27°28′ Gemini |
| Oct 7, 10:40 · 4°55′ Scorpio | Oct 28, 10:10 · 19°18′ Libra |
Mercury retrograde 2028
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) |
|---|---|
| Jan 24, 06:04 · 19°41′ Aquarius | Feb 14, 07:38 · 3°59′ Aquarius |
| May 21, 04:39 · 16°18′ Gemini | Jun 14, 02:07 · 7°45′ Gemini |
| Sep 19, 12:31 · 18°35′ Libra | Oct 11, 06:30 · 3°28′ Libra |
Mercury retrograde 2029
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) |
|---|---|
| Jan 7, 02:58 · 3°38′ Aquarius | Jan 27, 13:37 · 17°32′ Capricorn |
| May 1, 19:10 · 26°40′ Taurus | May 25, 15:16 · 17°33′ Taurus |
| Sep 2, 08:15 · 1°49′ Libra | Sep 24, 22:03 · 17°26′ Virgo |
| Dec 22, 00:51 · 17°42′ Capricorn | Jan 11, 00:43 · 1°26′ Capricorn |
2030
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) |
|---|---|
| Apr 12, 22:27 · 7°47′ Taurus | May 6, 16:18 · 27°26′ Aries |
| Aug 15, 21:23 · 14°29′ Virgo | Sep 8, 05:23 · 1°06′ Virgo |
| Dec 5, 21:46 · 1°51′ Capricorn | Dec 25, 16:16 · 15°33′ Sagittarius |
2031
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) |
|---|---|
| Mar 25, 20:47 · 19°44′ Aries | Apr 18, 07:15 · 7°50′ Aries |
| Jul 29, 02:48 · 26°25′ Leo | Aug 22, 00:26 · 14°17′ Leo |
| Nov 19, 16:13 · 16°03′ Sagittarius | Dec 9, 11:25 · 29°48′ Scorpio |
US Eastern time (New York).
How we calculate it
Mercury doesn't really move backwards: seen from Earth, when we overtake it or it overtakes us in orbit, its apparent path along the zodiac reverses for a few weeks.
We find the moments when its apparent motion changes direction (the stations) with astronomical ephemerides, to the minute. The degree shows where Mercury is at that moment.
In astrology it is linked to delays, misunderstandings and reviews: a good time to revisit, fix and pick things back up rather than launch something new.