Retrogrades › Mercury › 2009
Mercury is retrograde four times in 2009: Jan 11 – Feb 1 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 7 – May 30 in Gemini and Taurus; Sep 7 – Sep 29 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 26 – Jan 15 in Capricorn.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 2008 | Jan 11, 2009, 11:45 AM ET | Feb 1, 2009, 2:11 AM ET | Feb 21, 2009 | 7°45′ ♒︎ Aquarius → ♑︎ Capricorn 21°45′ |
| Apr 22, 2009 | May 7, 2009, 1:10 AM ET | May 30, 2009, 9:16 PM ET | Jun 15, 2009 | 1°45′ ♊︎ Gemini → ♉︎ Taurus 22°52′ |
| Aug 17, 2009 | Sep 7, 2009, 12:42 AM ET | Sep 29, 2009, 9:17 AM ET | Oct 14, 2009 | 6°13′ ♎︎ Libra → ♍︎ Virgo 21°37′ |
| Dec 9, 2009 | Dec 26, 2009, 9:39 AM ET | Jan 15, 2010, 11:51 AM ET | Feb 4, 2010 | 21°48′ ♑︎ Capricorn 5°33′ |
Jan 11, 2009 – Feb 1, 2009 · 21 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 7°45′ Aquarius on Jan 11, 2009, 11:45 AM ET (2009-01-11 16:45 UTC) and direct at 21°45′ Capricorn on Feb 1, 2009, 2:11 AM ET (2009-02-01 07:11 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals, then career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 26, 2008 – Feb 21, 2009.
May 7, 2009 – May 30, 2009 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 1°45′ Gemini on May 7, 2009, 1:10 AM ET (2009-05-07 05:10 UTC) and direct at 22°52′ Taurus on May 30, 2009, 9:16 PM ET (2009-05-31 01:16 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to everyday communication, siblings and short trips, then money, possessions and comfort.
Shadow: Apr 22, 2009 – Jun 15, 2009.
Sep 7, 2009 – Sep 29, 2009 · 22 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 6°13′ Libra on Sep 7, 2009, 12:42 AM ET (2009-09-07 04:42 UTC) and direct at 21°37′ Virgo on Sep 29, 2009, 9:17 AM ET (2009-09-29 13:17 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to partnerships, agreements and fairness, then work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Aug 17, 2009 – Oct 14, 2009.
Dec 26, 2009 – Jan 15, 2010 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 21°48′ Capricorn on Dec 26, 2009, 9:39 AM ET (2009-12-26 14:39 UTC) and direct at 5°33′ Capricorn on Jan 15, 2010, 11:51 AM ET (2010-01-15 16:51 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 9, 2009 – Feb 4, 2010.
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 2009 · Mars retrograde 2009 · Jupiter retrograde 2009 · Saturn retrograde 2009 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde four times in 2009: Jan 11 – Feb 1 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 7 – May 30 in Gemini and Taurus; Sep 7 – Sep 29 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 26 – Jan 15 in Capricorn.
About 72 days in total during 2009; each retrograde lasts 21 days, 24 days, 22 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.