Retrogrades › Mercury › 1991
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1991: Apr 4 – Apr 28 in Aries; Aug 7 – Aug 31 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 28 – Dec 18 in Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 27, 1990 | Dec 14, 1990, 4:06 PM ET | Jan 3, 1991, 12:52 PM ET | Jan 22, 1991 | 10°00′ ♑︎ Capricorn → ♐︎ Sagittarius 23°42′ |
| Mar 21, 1991 | Apr 4, 1991, 1:08 PM ET | Apr 28, 1991, 5:50 AM ET | May 15, 1991 | 29°01′ ♈︎ Aries 17°59′ |
| Jul 19, 1991 | Aug 7, 1991, 8:02 PM ET | Aug 31, 1991, 10:30 AM ET | Sep 14, 1991 | 5°55′ ♍︎ Virgo → ♌︎ Leo 23°03′ |
| Nov 10, 1991 | Nov 28, 1991, 11:58 AM ET | Dec 18, 1991, 6:15 AM ET | Jan 5, 1992 | 24°12′ ♐︎ Sagittarius 7°55′ |
Dec 14, 1990 – Jan 3, 1991 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 10°00′ Capricorn on Dec 14, 1990, 4:06 PM ET (1990-12-14 21:06 UTC) and direct at 23°42′ Sagittarius on Jan 3, 1991, 12:52 PM ET (1991-01-03 17:52 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans, then travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 27, 1990 – Jan 22, 1991.
Apr 4, 1991 – Apr 28, 1991 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 29°01′ Aries on Apr 4, 1991, 1:08 PM ET (1991-04-04 18:08 UTC) and direct at 17°59′ Aries on Apr 28, 1991, 5:50 AM ET (1991-04-28 09:50 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 21, 1991 – May 15, 1991.
Aug 7, 1991 – Aug 31, 1991 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 5°55′ Virgo on Aug 7, 1991, 8:02 PM ET (1991-08-08 00:02 UTC) and direct at 23°03′ Leo on Aug 31, 1991, 10:30 AM ET (1991-08-31 14:30 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details, then creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Jul 19, 1991 – Sep 14, 1991.
Nov 28, 1991 – Dec 18, 1991 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 24°12′ Sagittarius on Nov 28, 1991, 11:58 AM ET (1991-11-28 16:58 UTC) and direct at 7°55′ Sagittarius on Dec 18, 1991, 6:15 AM ET (1991-12-18 11:15 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 10, 1991 – Jan 5, 1992.
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 1991 · Mars retrograde 1991 · Jupiter retrograde 1991 · Saturn retrograde 1991 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1991: Apr 4 – Apr 28 in Aries; Aug 7 – Aug 31 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 28 – Dec 18 in Sagittarius. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Dec 14, 1990, ending Jan 3, 1991.
About 70 days in total during 1991; 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.