Retrogrades › Mercury › 2042
Mercury is retrograde four times in 2042: Jan 9 – Jan 30 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 5 – May 28 in Taurus; Sep 5 – Sep 27 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 24 – Jan 13 in Capricorn.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 24, 2041 | Jan 9, 2042, 9:48 PM ET | Jan 30, 2042, 10:29 AM ET | Feb 19, 2042 | 6°13′ ♒︎ Aquarius → ♑︎ Capricorn 20°10′ |
| Apr 20, 2042 | May 5, 2042, 1:20 AM ET | May 28, 2042, 9:26 PM ET | Jun 13, 2042 | 29°45′ ♉︎ Taurus 20°47′ |
| Aug 16, 2042 | Sep 5, 2042, 7:17 AM ET | Sep 27, 2042, 6:21 PM ET | Oct 12, 2042 | 4°34′ ♎︎ Libra → ♍︎ Virgo 20°03′ |
| Dec 7, 2042 | Dec 24, 2042, 7:45 PM ET | Jan 13, 2043, 8:49 PM ET | Feb 2, 2043 | 20°16′ ♑︎ Capricorn 4°01′ |
Jan 9, 2042 – Jan 30, 2042 · 21 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 6°13′ Aquarius on Jan 9, 2042, 9:48 PM ET (2042-01-10 02:48 UTC) and direct at 20°10′ Capricorn on Jan 30, 2042, 10:29 AM ET (2042-01-30 15:29 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals, then career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 24, 2041 – Feb 19, 2042.
May 5, 2042 – May 28, 2042 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 29°45′ Taurus on May 5, 2042, 1:20 AM ET (2042-05-05 05:20 UTC) and direct at 20°47′ Taurus on May 28, 2042, 9:26 PM ET (2042-05-29 01:26 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort.
Shadow: Apr 20, 2042 – Jun 13, 2042.
Sep 5, 2042 – Sep 27, 2042 · 22 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 4°34′ Libra on Sep 5, 2042, 7:17 AM ET (2042-09-05 11:17 UTC) and direct at 20°03′ Virgo on Sep 27, 2042, 6:21 PM ET (2042-09-27 22:21 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to partnerships, agreements and fairness, then work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Aug 16, 2042 – Oct 12, 2042.
Dec 24, 2042 – Jan 13, 2043 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 20°16′ Capricorn on Dec 24, 2042, 7:45 PM ET (2042-12-25 00:45 UTC) and direct at 4°01′ Capricorn on Jan 13, 2043, 8:49 PM ET (2043-01-14 01:49 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 7, 2042 – Feb 2, 2043.
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 2042 · Mars retrograde 2042 · Jupiter retrograde 2042 · Saturn retrograde 2042 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde four times in 2042: Jan 9 – Jan 30 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 5 – May 28 in Taurus; Sep 5 – Sep 27 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 24 – Jan 13 in Capricorn.
About 74 days in total during 2042; 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.