Retrogrades › Mercury › 2004
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2004: Apr 6 – Apr 30 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 9 – Sep 2 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 30 – Dec 20 in Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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′ |
| Mar 23, 2004 | Apr 6, 2004, 4:25 PM ET | Apr 30, 2004, 9:08 AM ET | May 17, 2004 | 1°56′ ♉︎ Taurus → ♈︎ Aries 21°07′ |
| Jul 21, 2004 | Aug 9, 2004, 8:38 PM ET | Sep 2, 2004, 9:06 AM ET | Sep 16, 2004 | 8°46′ ♍︎ Virgo → ♌︎ Leo 25°44′ |
| Nov 11, 2004 | Nov 30, 2004, 7:16 AM ET | Dec 20, 2004, 1:33 AM ET | Jan 7, 2005 | 26°45′ ♐︎ Sagittarius 10°27′ |
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.
Apr 6, 2004 – Apr 30, 2004 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 1°56′ Taurus on Apr 6, 2004, 4:25 PM ET (2004-04-06 20:25 UTC) and direct at 21°07′ Aries on Apr 30, 2004, 9:08 AM ET (2004-04-30 13:08 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort, then impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 23, 2004 – May 17, 2004.
Aug 9, 2004 – Sep 2, 2004 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 8°46′ Virgo on Aug 9, 2004, 8:38 PM ET (2004-08-10 00:38 UTC) and direct at 25°44′ Leo on Sep 2, 2004, 9:06 AM ET (2004-09-02 13:06 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details, then creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Jul 21, 2004 – Sep 16, 2004.
Nov 30, 2004 – Dec 20, 2004 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 26°45′ Sagittarius on Nov 30, 2004, 7:16 AM ET (2004-11-30 12:16 UTC) and direct at 10°27′ Sagittarius on Dec 20, 2004, 1:33 AM ET (2004-12-20 06:33 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 11, 2004 – Jan 7, 2005.
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 2004 · Jupiter retrograde 2004 · Saturn retrograde 2004 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2004: Apr 6 – Apr 30 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 9 – Sep 2 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 30 – Dec 20 in Sagittarius. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Dec 17, 2003, ending Jan 6, 2004.
About 73 days in total during 2004; 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.