Retrogrades › Mercury › 2024
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2024: Apr 1 – Apr 25 in Aries; Aug 5 – Aug 28 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 25 – Dec 15 in Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 25, 2023 | Dec 13, 2023, 2:07 AM ET | Jan 1, 2024, 10:09 PM ET | Jan 20, 2024 | 8°29′ ♑︎ Capricorn → ♐︎ Sagittarius 22°11′ |
| Mar 18, 2024 | Apr 1, 2024, 6:13 PM ET | Apr 25, 2024, 8:52 AM ET | May 13, 2024 | 27°13′ ♈︎ Aries 15°59′ |
| Jul 16, 2024 | Aug 5, 2024, 12:59 AM ET | Aug 28, 2024, 5:08 PM ET | Sep 11, 2024 | 4°06′ ♍︎ Virgo → ♌︎ Leo 21°24′ |
| Nov 7, 2024 | Nov 25, 2024, 9:39 PM ET | Dec 15, 2024, 3:59 PM ET | Jan 2, 2025 | 22°40′ ♐︎ Sagittarius 6°24′ |
Dec 13, 2023 – Jan 1, 2024 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 8°29′ Capricorn on Dec 13, 2023, 2:07 AM ET (2023-12-13 07:07 UTC) and direct at 22°11′ Sagittarius on Jan 1, 2024, 10:09 PM ET (2024-01-02 03:09 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans, then travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 25, 2023 – Jan 20, 2024.
Apr 1, 2024 – Apr 25, 2024 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 27°13′ Aries on Apr 1, 2024, 6:13 PM ET (2024-04-01 22:13 UTC) and direct at 15°59′ Aries on Apr 25, 2024, 8:52 AM ET (2024-04-25 12:52 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 18, 2024 – May 13, 2024.
Aug 5, 2024 – Aug 28, 2024 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 4°06′ Virgo on Aug 5, 2024, 12:59 AM ET (2024-08-05 04:59 UTC) and direct at 21°24′ Leo on Aug 28, 2024, 5:08 PM ET (2024-08-28 21:08 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details, then creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Jul 16, 2024 – Sep 11, 2024.
Nov 25, 2024 – Dec 15, 2024 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 22°40′ Sagittarius on Nov 25, 2024, 9:39 PM ET (2024-11-26 02:39 UTC) and direct at 6°24′ Sagittarius on Dec 15, 2024, 3:59 PM ET (2024-12-15 20:59 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 7, 2024 – Jan 2, 2025.
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 2024 · Jupiter retrograde 2024 · Saturn retrograde 2024 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2024: Apr 1 – Apr 25 in Aries; Aug 5 – Aug 28 in Virgo and Leo; Nov 25 – Dec 15 in Sagittarius. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Dec 13, 2023, ending Jan 1, 2024.
About 68 days in total during 2024; 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.