Retrogrades › Mercury › 1998
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1998: Mar 27 – Apr 20 in Aries; Jul 30 – Aug 23 in Leo; Nov 21 – Dec 11 in Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 1998 | Mar 27, 1998, 2:45 PM ET | Apr 20, 1998, 3:30 AM ET | May 8, 1998 | 21°30′ ♈︎ Aries 9°48′ |
| Jul 12, 1998 | Jul 30, 1998, 10:31 PM ET | Aug 23, 1998, 6:33 PM ET | Sep 6, 1998 | 28°16′ ♌︎ Leo 15°58′ |
| Nov 2, 1998 | Nov 21, 1998, 6:44 AM ET | Dec 11, 1998, 1:33 AM ET | Dec 29, 1998 | 17°33′ ♐︎ Sagittarius 1°18′ |
Mar 27, 1998 – Apr 20, 1998 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 21°30′ Aries on Mar 27, 1998, 2:45 PM ET (1998-03-27 19:45 UTC) and direct at 9°48′ Aries on Apr 20, 1998, 3:30 AM ET (1998-04-20 07:30 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 13, 1998 – May 8, 1998.
Jul 30, 1998 – Aug 23, 1998 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 28°16′ Leo on Jul 30, 1998, 10:31 PM ET (1998-07-31 02:31 UTC) and direct at 15°58′ Leo on Aug 23, 1998, 6:33 PM ET (1998-08-23 22:33 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Jul 12, 1998 – Sep 6, 1998.
Nov 21, 1998 – Dec 11, 1998 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 17°33′ Sagittarius on Nov 21, 1998, 6:44 AM ET (1998-11-21 11:44 UTC) and direct at 1°18′ Sagittarius on Dec 11, 1998, 1:33 AM ET (1998-12-11 06:33 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 2, 1998 – Dec 29, 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 1998 · Jupiter retrograde 1998 · Saturn retrograde 1998 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1998: Mar 27 – Apr 20 in Aries; Jul 30 – Aug 23 in Leo; Nov 21 – Dec 11 in Sagittarius.
About 67 days in total during 1998; each retrograde lasts 23 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.