Retrogrades › Mercury › 1978
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1978: Apr 1 – Apr 25 in Aries; Aug 4 – Aug 28 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 25 – Dec 15 in Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 18, 1978 | Apr 1, 1978, 11:18 AM ET | Apr 25, 1978, 1:47 AM ET | May 12, 1978 | 26°08′ ♈︎ Aries 14°51′ |
| Jul 16, 1978 | Aug 4, 1978, 7:10 PM ET | Aug 28, 1978, 11:35 AM ET | Sep 11, 1978 | 3°01′ ♍︎ Virgo → ♌︎ Leo 20°20′ |
| Nov 7, 1978 | Nov 25, 1978, 4:38 PM ET | Dec 15, 1978, 10:59 AM ET | Jan 2, 1979 | 21°38′ ♐︎ Sagittarius 5°21′ |
Apr 1, 1978 – Apr 25, 1978 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 26°08′ Aries on Apr 1, 1978, 11:18 AM ET (1978-04-01 16:18 UTC) and direct at 14°51′ Aries on Apr 25, 1978, 1:47 AM ET (1978-04-25 06:47 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 18, 1978 – May 12, 1978.
Aug 4, 1978 – Aug 28, 1978 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 3°01′ Virgo on Aug 4, 1978, 7:10 PM ET (1978-08-04 23:10 UTC) and direct at 20°20′ Leo on Aug 28, 1978, 11:35 AM ET (1978-08-28 15:35 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details, then creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Jul 16, 1978 – Sep 11, 1978.
Nov 25, 1978 – Dec 15, 1978 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 21°38′ Sagittarius on Nov 25, 1978, 4:38 PM ET (1978-11-25 21:38 UTC) and direct at 5°21′ Sagittarius on Dec 15, 1978, 10:59 AM ET (1978-12-15 15:59 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 7, 1978 – Jan 2, 1979.
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 1978 · Mars retrograde 1978 · Jupiter retrograde 1978 · Saturn retrograde 1978 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1978: Apr 1 – Apr 25 in Aries; Aug 4 – Aug 28 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 25 – Dec 15 in Sagittarius.
About 67 days in total during 1978; each retrograde lasts 24 days, 24 days and 20 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 55 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.