Retrogrades › Mercury › 2003
Mercury is retrograde four times in 2003: Jan 2 – Jan 22 in Capricorn; Apr 26 – May 20 in Taurus; Aug 28 – Sep 20 in Virgo; Dec 17 – Jan 6 in Capricorn and Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2002 | Jan 2, 2003, 1:19 PM ET | Jan 22, 2003, 8:06 PM ET | Feb 11, 2003 | 28°28′ ♑︎ Capricorn 12°18′ |
| Apr 12, 2003 | Apr 26, 2003, 8:00 AM ET | May 20, 2003, 3:35 AM ET | Jun 5, 2003 | 20°33′ ♉︎ Taurus 11°07′ |
| Aug 8, 2003 | Aug 28, 2003, 9:41 AM ET | Sep 20, 2003, 4:54 AM ET | Oct 4, 2003 | 26°19′ ♍︎ Virgo 12°12′ |
| Nov 29, 2003 | Dec 17, 2003, 11:02 AM ET | Jan 6, 2004, 8:46 AM ET | Jan 25, 2004 | 12°34′ ♑︎ Capricorn → ♐︎ Sagittarius 26°16′ |
Jan 2, 2003 – Jan 22, 2003 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 28°28′ Capricorn on Jan 2, 2003, 1:19 PM ET (2003-01-02 18:19 UTC) and direct at 12°18′ Capricorn on Jan 22, 2003, 8:06 PM ET (2003-01-23 01:06 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 16, 2002 – Feb 11, 2003.
Apr 26, 2003 – May 20, 2003 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 20°33′ Taurus on Apr 26, 2003, 8:00 AM ET (2003-04-26 12:00 UTC) and direct at 11°07′ Taurus on May 20, 2003, 3:35 AM ET (2003-05-20 07:35 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort.
Shadow: Apr 12, 2003 – Jun 5, 2003.
Aug 28, 2003 – Sep 20, 2003 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 26°19′ Virgo on Aug 28, 2003, 9:41 AM ET (2003-08-28 13:41 UTC) and direct at 12°12′ Virgo on Sep 20, 2003, 4:54 AM ET (2003-09-20 08:54 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Aug 8, 2003 – Oct 4, 2003.
Dec 17, 2003 – Jan 6, 2004 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 12°34′ Capricorn on Dec 17, 2003, 11:02 AM ET (2003-12-17 16:02 UTC) and direct at 26°16′ Sagittarius on Jan 6, 2004, 8:46 AM ET (2004-01-06 13:46 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans, then travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 29, 2003 – Jan 25, 2004.
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: Mars retrograde 2003 · Jupiter retrograde 2003 · Saturn retrograde 2003 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde four times in 2003: Jan 2 – Jan 22 in Capricorn; Apr 26 – May 20 in Taurus; Aug 28 – Sep 20 in Virgo; Dec 17 – Jan 6 in Capricorn and Sagittarius.
About 81 days in total during 2003; each retrograde lasts 20 days, 24 days, 23 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.