Retrogrades › Mercury › 2011
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2011: Mar 30 – Apr 23 in Aries; Aug 2 – Aug 26 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 24 – Dec 13 in Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2011 | Mar 30, 2011, 4:49 PM ET | Apr 23, 2011, 6:03 AM ET | May 11, 2011 | 24°21′ ♈︎ Aries 12°53′ |
| Jul 15, 2011 | Aug 2, 2011, 11:53 PM ET | Aug 26, 2011, 5:59 PM ET | Sep 9, 2011 | 1°12′ ♍︎ Virgo → ♌︎ Leo 18°42′ |
| Nov 5, 2011 | Nov 24, 2011, 2:15 AM ET | Dec 13, 2011, 8:45 PM ET | Jan 1, 2012 | 20°07′ ♐︎ Sagittarius 3°51′ |
Mar 30, 2011 – Apr 23, 2011 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 24°21′ Aries on Mar 30, 2011, 4:49 PM ET (2011-03-30 20:49 UTC) and direct at 12°53′ Aries on Apr 23, 2011, 6:03 AM ET (2011-04-23 10:03 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 16, 2011 – May 11, 2011.
Aug 2, 2011 – Aug 26, 2011 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 1°12′ Virgo on Aug 2, 2011, 11:53 PM ET (2011-08-03 03:53 UTC) and direct at 18°42′ Leo on Aug 26, 2011, 5:59 PM ET (2011-08-26 21:59 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details, then creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Jul 15, 2011 – Sep 9, 2011.
Nov 24, 2011 – Dec 13, 2011 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 20°07′ Sagittarius on Nov 24, 2011, 2:15 AM ET (2011-11-24 07:15 UTC) and direct at 3°51′ Sagittarius on Dec 13, 2011, 8:45 PM ET (2011-12-14 01:45 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 5, 2011 – Jan 1, 2012.
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: Jupiter retrograde 2011 · Saturn retrograde 2011 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2011: Mar 30 – Apr 23 in Aries; Aug 2 – Aug 26 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 24 – Dec 13 in Sagittarius.
About 67 days in total during 2011; 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.