Retrogrades › Mercury › 2017
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2017: Apr 9 – May 3 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 12 – Sep 5 in Virgo and Leo; Dec 3 – Dec 22 in Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2016 | Dec 19, 2016, 5:56 AM ET | Jan 8, 2017, 4:43 AM ET | Jan 27, 2017 | 15°08′ ♑︎ Capricorn → ♐︎ Sagittarius 28°51′ |
| Mar 27, 2017 | Apr 9, 2017, 7:10 PM ET | May 3, 2017, 12:34 PM ET | May 20, 2017 | 4°51′ ♉︎ Taurus → ♈︎ Aries 24°16′ |
| Jul 24, 2017 | Aug 12, 2017, 9:04 PM ET | Sep 5, 2017, 7:24 AM ET | Sep 19, 2017 | 11°38′ ♍︎ Virgo → ♌︎ Leo 28°25′ |
| Nov 14, 2017 | Dec 3, 2017, 2:32 AM ET | Dec 22, 2017, 8:54 PM ET | Jan 10, 2018 | 29°18′ ♐︎ Sagittarius 13°00′ |
Dec 19, 2016 – Jan 8, 2017 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 15°08′ Capricorn on Dec 19, 2016, 5:56 AM ET (2016-12-19 10:56 UTC) and direct at 28°51′ Sagittarius on Jan 8, 2017, 4:43 AM ET (2017-01-08 09:43 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans, then travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Dec 1, 2016 – Jan 27, 2017.
Apr 9, 2017 – May 3, 2017 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 4°51′ Taurus on Apr 9, 2017, 7:10 PM ET (2017-04-09 23:10 UTC) and direct at 24°16′ Aries on May 3, 2017, 12:34 PM ET (2017-05-03 16:34 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort, then impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 27, 2017 – May 20, 2017.
Aug 12, 2017 – Sep 5, 2017 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 11°38′ Virgo on Aug 12, 2017, 9:04 PM ET (2017-08-13 01:04 UTC) and direct at 28°25′ Leo on Sep 5, 2017, 7:24 AM ET (2017-09-05 11:24 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details, then creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Jul 24, 2017 – Sep 19, 2017.
Dec 3, 2017 – Dec 22, 2017 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 29°18′ Sagittarius on Dec 3, 2017, 2:32 AM ET (2017-12-03 07:32 UTC) and direct at 13°00′ Sagittarius on Dec 22, 2017, 8:54 PM ET (2017-12-23 01:54 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 14, 2017 – Jan 10, 2018.
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 2017 · Jupiter retrograde 2017 · Saturn retrograde 2017 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2017: Apr 9 – May 3 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 12 – Sep 5 in Virgo and Leo; Dec 3 – Dec 22 in Sagittarius. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Dec 19, 2016, ending Jan 8, 2017.
About 74 days in total during 2017; each retrograde lasts 24 days, 23 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.