Retrogrades › Mercury › 1985
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1985: Mar 24 – Apr 17 in Aries; Jul 27 – Aug 20 in Leo; Nov 18 – Dec 8 in Sagittarius and Scorpio.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10, 1985 | Mar 24, 1985, 2:03 PM ET | Apr 17, 1985, 12:20 AM ET | May 5, 1985 | 18°40′ ♈︎ Aries 6°43′ |
| Jul 9, 1985 | Jul 27, 1985, 8:52 PM ET | Aug 20, 1985, 6:45 PM ET | Sep 3, 1985 | 25°19′ ♌︎ Leo 13°13′ |
| Oct 30, 1985 | Nov 18, 1985, 11:07 AM ET | Dec 8, 1985, 6:26 AM ET | Dec 26, 1985 | 15°00′ ♐︎ Sagittarius → ♏︎ Scorpio 28°46′ |
Mar 24, 1985 – Apr 17, 1985 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 18°40′ Aries on Mar 24, 1985, 2:03 PM ET (1985-03-24 19:03 UTC) and direct at 6°43′ Aries on Apr 17, 1985, 12:20 AM ET (1985-04-17 05:20 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 10, 1985 – May 5, 1985.
Jul 27, 1985 – Aug 20, 1985 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 25°19′ Leo on Jul 27, 1985, 8:52 PM ET (1985-07-28 00:52 UTC) and direct at 13°13′ Leo on Aug 20, 1985, 6:45 PM ET (1985-08-20 22:45 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Jul 9, 1985 – Sep 3, 1985.
Nov 18, 1985 – Dec 8, 1985 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 15°00′ Sagittarius on Nov 18, 1985, 11:07 AM ET (1985-11-18 16:07 UTC) and direct at 28°46′ Scorpio on Dec 8, 1985, 6:26 AM ET (1985-12-08 11:26 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs, then shared money, secrets and emotional depth.
Shadow: Oct 30, 1985 – Dec 26, 1985.
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 1985 · Jupiter retrograde 1985 · Saturn retrograde 1985 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1985: Mar 24 – Apr 17 in Aries; Jul 27 – Aug 20 in Leo; Nov 18 – Dec 8 in Sagittarius and Scorpio.
About 67 days in total during 1985; each retrograde lasts 23 days, 24 days and 20 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 56 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.