Retrogrades › Mercury › 1976
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1976: Jan 14 – Feb 3 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 9 – Jun 1 in Gemini and Taurus; Sep 8 – Oct 1 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 27 – Jan 17 in Capricorn.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 1975 | Jan 14, 1976, 1:45 AM ET | Feb 3, 1976, 5:58 PM ET | Feb 23, 1976 | 9°18′ ♒︎ Aquarius → ♑︎ Capricorn 23°20′ |
| Apr 24, 1976 | May 9, 1976, 1:11 AM ET | Jun 1, 1976, 9:14 PM ET | Jun 17, 1976 | 3°44′ ♊︎ Gemini → ♉︎ Taurus 24°57′ |
| Aug 19, 1976 | Sep 8, 1976, 5:59 PM ET | Oct 1, 1976, 12:02 AM ET | Oct 15, 1976 | 7°51′ ♎︎ Libra → ♍︎ Virgo 23°09′ |
| Dec 11, 1976 | Dec 27, 1976, 11:35 PM ET | Jan 17, 1977, 3:01 AM ET | Feb 5, 1977 | 23°19′ ♑︎ Capricorn 7°06′ |
Jan 14, 1976 – Feb 3, 1976 · 21 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 9°18′ Aquarius on Jan 14, 1976, 1:45 AM ET (1976-01-14 06:45 UTC) and direct at 23°20′ Capricorn on Feb 3, 1976, 5:58 PM ET (1976-02-03 22:58 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals, then career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 28, 1975 – Feb 23, 1976.
May 9, 1976 – Jun 1, 1976 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 3°44′ Gemini on May 9, 1976, 1:11 AM ET (1976-05-09 05:11 UTC) and direct at 24°57′ Taurus on Jun 1, 1976, 9:14 PM ET (1976-06-02 01:14 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to everyday communication, siblings and short trips, then money, possessions and comfort.
Shadow: Apr 24, 1976 – Jun 17, 1976.
Sep 8, 1976 – Oct 1, 1976 · 22 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 7°51′ Libra on Sep 8, 1976, 5:59 PM ET (1976-09-08 21:59 UTC) and direct at 23°09′ Virgo on Oct 1, 1976, 12:02 AM ET (1976-10-01 04:02 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to partnerships, agreements and fairness, then work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Aug 19, 1976 – Oct 15, 1976.
Dec 27, 1976 – Jan 17, 1977 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 23°19′ Capricorn on Dec 27, 1976, 11:35 PM ET (1976-12-28 04:35 UTC) and direct at 7°06′ Capricorn on Jan 17, 1977, 3:01 AM ET (1977-01-17 08:01 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 11, 1976 – Feb 5, 1977.
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: Mars retrograde 1976 · Jupiter retrograde 1976 · Saturn retrograde 1976 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1976: Jan 14 – Feb 3 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 9 – Jun 1 in Gemini and Taurus; Sep 8 – Oct 1 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 27 – Jan 17 in Capricorn.
About 71 days in total during 1976; each retrograde lasts 21 days, 24 days, 22 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.