Retrogrades › Mercury › 1996
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1996: Jan 9 – Jan 30 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 3 – May 27 in Taurus; Sep 4 – Sep 26 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 23 – Jan 12 in Capricorn.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 24, 1995 | Jan 9, 1996, 4:51 PM ET | Jan 30, 1996, 5:15 AM ET | Feb 19, 1996 | 5°10′ ♒︎ Aquarius → ♑︎ Capricorn 19°07′ |
| Apr 19, 1996 | May 3, 1996, 6:46 PM ET | May 27, 1996, 2:57 PM ET | Jun 12, 1996 | 28°39′ ♉︎ Taurus 19°39′ |
| Aug 14, 1996 | Sep 4, 1996, 1:41 AM ET | Sep 26, 1996, 1:10 PM ET | Oct 11, 1996 | 3°29′ ♎︎ Libra → ♍︎ Virgo 19°00′ |
| Dec 6, 1996 | Dec 23, 1996, 2:46 PM ET | Jan 12, 1997, 3:41 PM ET | Feb 1, 1997 | 19°13′ ♑︎ Capricorn 2°58′ |
Jan 9, 1996 – Jan 30, 1996 · 21 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 5°10′ Aquarius on Jan 9, 1996, 4:51 PM ET (1996-01-09 21:51 UTC) and direct at 19°07′ Capricorn on Jan 30, 1996, 5:15 AM ET (1996-01-30 10:15 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals, then career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 24, 1995 – Feb 19, 1996.
May 3, 1996 – May 27, 1996 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 28°39′ Taurus on May 3, 1996, 6:46 PM ET (1996-05-03 22:46 UTC) and direct at 19°39′ Taurus on May 27, 1996, 2:57 PM ET (1996-05-27 18:57 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort.
Shadow: Apr 19, 1996 – Jun 12, 1996.
Sep 4, 1996 – Sep 26, 1996 · 22 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 3°29′ Libra on Sep 4, 1996, 1:41 AM ET (1996-09-04 05:41 UTC) and direct at 19°00′ Virgo on Sep 26, 1996, 1:10 PM ET (1996-09-26 17:10 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to partnerships, agreements and fairness, then work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Aug 14, 1996 – Oct 11, 1996.
Dec 23, 1996 – Jan 12, 1997 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 19°13′ Capricorn on Dec 23, 1996, 2:46 PM ET (1996-12-23 19:46 UTC) and direct at 2°58′ Capricorn on Jan 12, 1997, 3:41 PM ET (1997-01-12 20:41 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 6, 1996 – Feb 1, 1997.
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 1996 · Jupiter retrograde 1996 · Saturn retrograde 1996 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde four times in 1996: Jan 9 – Jan 30 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 3 – May 27 in Taurus; Sep 4 – Sep 26 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 23 – Jan 12 in Capricorn.
About 75 days in total during 1996; 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.