Retrogrades › Mercury › 1989
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1989: Jan 15 – Feb 5 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 12 – Jun 5 in Gemini and Taurus; Sep 11 – Oct 3 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 30 – Jan 19 in Capricorn.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 30, 1988 | Jan 15, 1989, 8:46 PM ET | Feb 5, 1989, 3:08 PM ET | Feb 25, 1989 | 11°54′ ♒︎ Aquarius → ♑︎ Capricorn 25°59′ |
| Apr 28, 1989 | May 12, 1989, 7:58 AM ET | Jun 5, 1989, 4:01 AM ET | Jun 20, 1989 | 6°51′ ♊︎ Gemini → ♉︎ Taurus 28°09′ |
| Aug 22, 1989 | Sep 11, 1989, 4:51 PM ET | Oct 3, 1989, 7:49 PM ET | Oct 18, 1989 | 10°34′ ♎︎ Libra → ♍︎ Virgo 25°44′ |
| Dec 13, 1989 | Dec 30, 1989, 6:28 PM ET | Jan 19, 1990, 11:29 PM ET | Feb 8, 1990 | 25°54′ ♑︎ Capricorn 9°42′ |
Jan 15, 1989 – Feb 5, 1989 · 21 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 11°54′ Aquarius on Jan 15, 1989, 8:46 PM ET (1989-01-16 01:46 UTC) and direct at 25°59′ Capricorn on Feb 5, 1989, 3:08 PM ET (1989-02-05 20:08 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals, then career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 30, 1988 – Feb 25, 1989.
May 12, 1989 – Jun 5, 1989 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 6°51′ Gemini on May 12, 1989, 7:58 AM ET (1989-05-12 11:58 UTC) and direct at 28°09′ Taurus on Jun 5, 1989, 4:01 AM ET (1989-06-05 08:01 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to everyday communication, siblings and short trips, then money, possessions and comfort.
Shadow: Apr 28, 1989 – Jun 20, 1989.
Sep 11, 1989 – Oct 3, 1989 · 22 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 10°34′ Libra on Sep 11, 1989, 4:51 PM ET (1989-09-11 20:51 UTC) and direct at 25°44′ Virgo on Oct 3, 1989, 7:49 PM ET (1989-10-03 23:49 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to partnerships, agreements and fairness, then work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Aug 22, 1989 – Oct 18, 1989.
Dec 30, 1989 – Jan 19, 1990 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 25°54′ Capricorn on Dec 30, 1989, 6:28 PM ET (1989-12-30 23:28 UTC) and direct at 9°42′ Capricorn on Jan 19, 1990, 11:29 PM ET (1990-01-20 04:29 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 13, 1989 – Feb 8, 1990.
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 1989 · Jupiter retrograde 1989 · Saturn retrograde 1989 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1989: Jan 15 – Feb 5 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 12 – Jun 5 in Gemini and Taurus; Sep 11 – Oct 3 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 30 – Jan 19 in Capricorn.
About 68 days in total during 1989; 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.