Retrogrades › Mercury › 1970
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1970: Jan 4 – Jan 24 in Aquarius and Capricorn; Apr 28 – May 22 in Taurus; Aug 30 – Sep 21 in Virgo; Dec 19 – Jan 7 in Capricorn and Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18, 1969 | Jan 4, 1970, 3:12 AM ET | Jan 24, 1970, 11:37 AM ET | Feb 13, 1970 | 0°00′ ♒︎ Aquarius → ♑︎ Capricorn 13°52′ |
| Apr 14, 1970 | Apr 28, 1970, 6:54 AM ET | May 22, 1970, 2:47 AM ET | Jun 7, 1970 | 22°29′ ♉︎ Taurus 13°12′ |
| Aug 10, 1970 | Aug 30, 1970, 3:26 AM ET | Sep 21, 1970, 8:20 PM ET | Oct 6, 1970 | 28°01′ ♍︎ Virgo 13°46′ |
| Dec 1, 1970 | Dec 19, 1970, 12:59 AM ET | Jan 7, 1971, 11:37 PM ET | Jan 27, 1971 | 14°06′ ♑︎ Capricorn → ♐︎ Sagittarius 27°49′ |
Jan 4, 1970 – Jan 24, 1970 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 0°00′ Aquarius on Jan 4, 1970, 3:12 AM ET (1970-01-04 08:12 UTC) and direct at 13°52′ Capricorn on Jan 24, 1970, 11:37 AM ET (1970-01-24 16:37 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals, then career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 18, 1969 – Feb 13, 1970.
Apr 28, 1970 – May 22, 1970 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 22°29′ Taurus on Apr 28, 1970, 6:54 AM ET (1970-04-28 10:54 UTC) and direct at 13°12′ Taurus on May 22, 1970, 2:47 AM ET (1970-05-22 06:47 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort.
Shadow: Apr 14, 1970 – Jun 7, 1970.
Aug 30, 1970 – Sep 21, 1970 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 28°01′ Virgo on Aug 30, 1970, 3:26 AM ET (1970-08-30 07:26 UTC) and direct at 13°46′ Virgo on Sep 21, 1970, 8:20 PM ET (1970-09-22 00:20 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Aug 10, 1970 – Oct 6, 1970.
Dec 19, 1970 – Jan 7, 1971 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 14°06′ Capricorn on Dec 19, 1970, 12:59 AM ET (1970-12-19 05:59 UTC) and direct at 27°49′ Sagittarius on Jan 7, 1971, 11:37 PM ET (1971-01-08 04:37 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans, then travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Dec 1, 1970 – Jan 27, 1971.
Mercury rules communication, travel, technology and contracts. During its retrograde astrologers advise reviewing rather than launching: double-check messages and bookings, back up devices, and revisit old plans or conversations.
Retrograde motion is an optical effect: Earth and Mercury move at different speeds, so Mercury appears to drift backward against the stars for a while. Our dates are station times — when the apparent motion reverses — calculated with Astronomy Engine; see the methodology.
Same year: Venus retrograde 1970 · Jupiter retrograde 1970 · Saturn retrograde 1970 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1970: Jan 4 – Jan 24 in Aquarius and Capricorn; Apr 28 – May 22 in Taurus; Aug 30 – Sep 21 in Virgo; Dec 19 – Jan 7 in Capricorn and Sagittarius.
About 80 days in total during 1970; each retrograde lasts 20 days, 24 days, 23 days and 20 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 57 days.
The pre-shadow starts when Mercury first reaches the degree where it will turn direct; the post-shadow ends when it passes the degree where it turned retrograde. The dates are in the table above.
Astrology is a symbolic and cultural tradition. The planetary positions on this site are calculated with astronomical accuracy; the interpretations describe what astrologers associate with them and are not scientifically validated predictions about personality, relationships or the future.