Retrogrades
In 2003, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from January 2 to January 23, from April 26 to May 20, from August 28 to September 20, from December 17 to January 6, 2004. Venus does not go retrograde this year. Mars: from July 29 to September 27. London time.
from January 2 to January 23
Stops and turns back on January 2 at 18:19, at 28°27' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 23 at 01:08, at 12°17' Capricorn
Shadow: from December 17, 2002 to February 11; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from April 26 to May 20
Stops and turns back on April 26 at 12:58, at 20°33' Taurus
Moves forward again on May 20 at 08:32, at 11°07' Taurus
Shadow: from April 12 to June 5; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from August 28 to September 20
Stops and turns back on August 28 at 14:41, at 26°19' Virgo
Moves forward again on September 20 at 09:52, at 12°12' Virgo
Shadow: from August 8 to October 4; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from December 17 to January 6, 2004
Stops and turns back on December 17 at 16:00, at 12°33' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 6, 2004 at 13:43, at 26°16' Sagittarius
Shadow: from November 30 to January 25, 2004; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
No retrograde this year.
from July 29 to September 27
Stops and turns back on July 29 at 08:36, at 10°08' Pisces
Moves forward again on September 27 at 08:52, at 0°07' Pisces
Shadow: from June 17 to November 8; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from December 4, 2002 to April 4
Stops and turns back on December 4, 2002 at 12:21, at 18°06' Leo
Moves forward again on April 4 at 04:03, at 8°03' Leo
from October 11, 2002 to February 22
Stops and turns back on October 11, 2002 at 14:01, at 29°05' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 22 at 07:40, at 22°08' Gemini
from October 26 to March 7, 2004
Stops and turns back on October 26 at 00:42, at 13°14' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 7, 2004 at 16:51, at 6°17' Cancer
from June 7 to November 8
Stops and turns back on June 7 at 07:58, at 2°49' Pisces
Moves forward again on November 8 at 12:43, at 28°53' Aquarius
from May 16 to October 23
Stops and turns back on May 16 at 01:46, at 13°11' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 23 at 02:53, at 10°23' Aquarius
from March 23 to August 29
Stops and turns back on March 23 at 05:12, at 19°57' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on August 29 at 04:32, at 17°14' Sagittarius
In 2003, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from January 2 to January 23, from April 26 to May 20, from August 28 to September 20, from December 17 to January 6, 2004. London time.
Venus does not go retrograde this year.
Yes: from July 29 to September 27. London time.
A planet never moves backwards. But Earth and the planet orbit the Sun at different speeds: when one overtakes the other, the planet, seen from here, seems to slow down, stop, back up for a few weeks, then move forward again. It's a perspective effect, regular and predictable centuries in advance.
In astrology, a retrograde planet invites you to go back over what it stands for: for Mercury, the planet of communication, it's a time to reread, review and repair rather than start something new. It's a symbolic reading: nothing proves that Mercury retrograde makes devices break down, but the advice to reread before you hit send always helps.
The shadow, for Mercury, Venus and Mars: the planet covers the same degrees three times, moving forward, backward, then forward again. Some astrologers already see the retrograde's theme in the shadow: a build-up before, a wrap-up after.
A station is the moment the planet seems to stop in the sky, before backing up or moving forward again. We look for it day by day, then refine it to the second with the Swiss Ephemeris (NASA ephemerides); the dates are checked against a second, independent calculation (Skyfield).