Retrogrades › Mercury › 2008
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2008: Jan 28 – Feb 18 in Aquarius; May 26 – Jun 19 in Gemini; Sep 24 – Oct 15 in Libra.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13, 2008 | Jan 28, 2008, 3:30 PM ET | Feb 18, 2008, 10:00 PM ET | Mar 10, 2008 | 23°53′ ♒︎ Aquarius 8°19′ |
| May 11, 2008 | May 26, 2008, 11:41 AM ET | Jun 19, 2008, 10:38 AM ET | Jul 4, 2008 | 21°32′ ♊︎ Gemini 12°59′ |
| Sep 3, 2008 | Sep 24, 2008, 3:14 AM ET | Oct 15, 2008, 4:07 PM ET | Oct 30, 2008 | 22°50′ ♎︎ Libra 7°34′ |
Jan 28, 2008 – Feb 18, 2008 · 21 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 23°53′ Aquarius on Jan 28, 2008, 3:30 PM ET (2008-01-28 20:30 UTC) and direct at 8°19′ Aquarius on Feb 18, 2008, 10:00 PM ET (2008-02-19 03:00 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals.
Shadow: Jan 13, 2008 – Mar 10, 2008.
May 26, 2008 – Jun 19, 2008 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 21°32′ Gemini on May 26, 2008, 11:41 AM ET (2008-05-26 15:41 UTC) and direct at 12°59′ Gemini on Jun 19, 2008, 10:38 AM ET (2008-06-19 14:38 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to everyday communication, siblings and short trips.
Shadow: May 11, 2008 – Jul 4, 2008.
Sep 24, 2008 – Oct 15, 2008 · 22 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 22°50′ Libra on Sep 24, 2008, 3:14 AM ET (2008-09-24 07:14 UTC) and direct at 7°34′ Libra on Oct 15, 2008, 4:07 PM ET (2008-10-15 20:07 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to partnerships, agreements and fairness.
Shadow: Sep 3, 2008 – Oct 30, 2008.
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 2008 · Jupiter retrograde 2008 · Saturn retrograde 2008 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2008: Jan 28 – Feb 18 in Aquarius; May 26 – Jun 19 in Gemini; Sep 24 – Oct 15 in Libra.
About 67 days in total during 2008; each retrograde lasts 21 days, 24 days and 22 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.