Retrogrades
In 2009, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from January 11 to February 1, from May 7 to May 31, from September 7 to September 29, from December 26 to January 15, 2010. Venus: from March 6 to April 17. Mars: from December 20 to March 10, 2010. London time.
from January 11 to February 1
Stops and turns back on January 11 at 16:43, at 7°45' Aquarius
Moves forward again on February 1 at 07:10, at 21°44' Capricorn
Shadow: from December 26, 2008 to February 21; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from May 7 to May 31
Stops and turns back on May 7 at 06:00, at 1°44' Gemini
Moves forward again on May 31 at 02:21, at 22°52' Taurus
Shadow: from April 23 to June 15; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from September 7 to September 29
Stops and turns back on September 7 at 05:44, at 6°13' Libra
Moves forward again on September 29 at 14:13, at 21°36' Virgo
Shadow: from August 18 to October 14; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from December 26 to January 15, 2010
Stops and turns back on December 26 at 14:38, at 21°47' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 15, 2010 at 16:51, at 5°33' Capricorn
Shadow: from December 9 to February 4, 2010; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from March 6 to April 17
Stops and turns back on March 6 at 17:17, at 15°27' Aries
Moves forward again on April 17 at 20:24, at 29°11' Pisces
Shadow: from February 2 to May 21; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from December 20 to March 10, 2010
Stops and turns back on December 20 at 13:26, at 19°41' Leo
Moves forward again on March 10, 2010 at 17:08, at 0°17' Leo
Shadow: from October 17 to May 17, 2010; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from June 15 to October 13
Stops and turns back on June 15 at 08:49, at 27°01' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 13 at 05:34, at 17°09' Aquarius
from December 31, 2008 to May 17
Stops and turns back on December 31, 2008 at 18:07, at 21°46' Virgo
Moves forward again on May 17 at 03:06, at 14°54' Virgo
from July 1 to December 1
Stops and turns back on July 1 at 08:37, at 26°37' Pisces
Moves forward again on December 1 at 20:27, at 22°42' Pisces
from May 29 to November 4
Stops and turns back on May 29 at 05:30, at 26°28' Aquarius
Moves forward again on November 4 at 18:09, at 23°41' Aquarius
from April 4 to September 11
Stops and turns back on April 4 at 18:35, at 3°18' Capricorn
Moves forward again on September 11 at 17:57, at 0°39' Capricorn
In 2009, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from January 11 to February 1, from May 7 to May 31, from September 7 to September 29, from December 26 to January 15, 2010. London time.
Yes: from March 6 to April 17. London time.
Yes: from December 20 to March 10, 2010. 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).