Retrogrades › Mercury › 1997
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1997: Apr 14 – May 8 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 17 – Sep 9 in Virgo; Dec 7 – Dec 27 in Capricorn and Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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′ |
| Mar 31, 1997 | Apr 14, 1997, 7:57 PM ET | May 8, 1997, 2:09 PM ET | May 25, 1997 | 9°39′ ♉︎ Taurus → ♈︎ Aries 29°28′ |
| Jul 29, 1997 | Aug 17, 1997, 3:51 PM ET | Sep 9, 1997, 9:39 PM ET | Sep 24, 1997 | 16°14′ ♍︎ Virgo 2°42′ |
| Nov 19, 1997 | Dec 7, 1997, 11:55 AM ET | Dec 27, 1997, 6:44 AM ET | Jan 15, 1998 | 3°22′ ♑︎ Capricorn → ♐︎ Sagittarius 17°04′ |
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.
Apr 14, 1997 – May 8, 1997 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 9°39′ Taurus on Apr 14, 1997, 7:57 PM ET (1997-04-14 23:57 UTC) and direct at 29°28′ Aries on May 8, 1997, 2:09 PM ET (1997-05-08 18:09 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort, then impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 31, 1997 – May 25, 1997.
Aug 17, 1997 – Sep 9, 1997 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 16°14′ Virgo on Aug 17, 1997, 3:51 PM ET (1997-08-17 19:51 UTC) and direct at 2°42′ Virgo on Sep 9, 1997, 9:39 PM ET (1997-09-10 01:39 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Jul 29, 1997 – Sep 24, 1997.
Dec 7, 1997 – Dec 27, 1997 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 3°22′ Capricorn on Dec 7, 1997, 11:55 AM ET (1997-12-07 16:55 UTC) and direct at 17°04′ Sagittarius on Dec 27, 1997, 6:44 AM ET (1997-12-27 11:44 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans, then travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 19, 1997 – Jan 15, 1998.
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 1997 · Mars retrograde 1997 · Jupiter retrograde 1997 · Saturn retrograde 1997 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1997: Apr 14 – May 8 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 17 – Sep 9 in Virgo; Dec 7 – Dec 27 in Capricorn and Sagittarius. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Dec 23, 1996, ending Jan 12, 1997.
About 79 days in total during 1997; each retrograde lasts 24 days, 23 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.