Retrogrades › Mercury › 1983
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1983: Jan 6 – Jan 27 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 1 – May 25 in Taurus; Sep 2 – Sep 24 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 21 – Jan 10 in Capricorn.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 1982 | Jan 6, 1983, 10:00 PM ET | Jan 27, 1983, 8:24 AM ET | Feb 16, 1983 | 2°35′ ♒︎ Aquarius → ♑︎ Capricorn 16°29′ |
| Apr 17, 1983 | May 1, 1983, 12:41 PM ET | May 25, 1983, 8:45 AM ET | Jun 10, 1983 | 25°33′ ♉︎ Taurus 16°25′ |
| Aug 12, 1983 | Sep 2, 1983, 2:38 AM ET | Sep 24, 1983, 4:51 PM ET | Oct 9, 1983 | 0°45′ ♎︎ Libra → ♍︎ Virgo 16°23′ |
| Dec 4, 1983 | Dec 21, 1983, 7:52 PM ET | Jan 10, 1984, 7:37 PM ET | Jan 30, 1984 | 16°39′ ♑︎ Capricorn 0°23′ |
Jan 6, 1983 – Jan 27, 1983 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 2°35′ Aquarius on Jan 6, 1983, 10:00 PM ET (1983-01-07 03:00 UTC) and direct at 16°29′ Capricorn on Jan 27, 1983, 8:24 AM ET (1983-01-27 13:24 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals, then career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 21, 1982 – Feb 16, 1983.
May 1, 1983 – May 25, 1983 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 25°33′ Taurus on May 1, 1983, 12:41 PM ET (1983-05-01 16:41 UTC) and direct at 16°25′ Taurus on May 25, 1983, 8:45 AM ET (1983-05-25 12:45 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort.
Shadow: Apr 17, 1983 – Jun 10, 1983.
Sep 2, 1983 – Sep 24, 1983 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 0°45′ Libra on Sep 2, 1983, 2:38 AM ET (1983-09-02 06:38 UTC) and direct at 16°23′ Virgo on Sep 24, 1983, 4:51 PM ET (1983-09-24 20:51 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to partnerships, agreements and fairness, then work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Aug 12, 1983 – Oct 9, 1983.
Dec 21, 1983 – Jan 10, 1984 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 16°39′ Capricorn on Dec 21, 1983, 7:52 PM ET (1983-12-22 00:52 UTC) and direct at 0°23′ Capricorn on Jan 10, 1984, 7:37 PM ET (1984-01-11 00:37 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 4, 1983 – Jan 30, 1984.
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 1983 · Jupiter retrograde 1983 · Saturn retrograde 1983 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1983: Jan 6 – Jan 27 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 1 – May 25 in Taurus; Sep 2 – Sep 24 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 21 – Jan 10 in Capricorn.
About 77 days in total during 1983; 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.