Mercury retrograde 1988

3 periods, 67 days inside the year — 18.2% of 1988. Station times below are UTC and computed to the minute.

21 days · retreats 15.39°

2 February → 23 February 1988 in Aquarius

Stations retrograde 2 Feb 1988, 06:16 UTC at 28.24° Aquarius
Stations direct 23 Feb 1988, 17:29 UTC at 12.85° Aquarius
Shadow opens 18 Jan 1988 (15 days before)
Shadow closes 14 Mar 1988 (20 days after)
Full window including shadows 57 days

Mercury retrograde in Aquarius

In Aquarius the retrograde falls on technology, groups and future plans. Software glitches, group chats full of misunderstandings and stalled community projects are typical. It suits updating systems, reconnecting with old friends and rethinking long-range ideas.

It begins in Aquarius season and ends in Pisces season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Pluto in Scorpio — 14 Feb to 23 Feb 1988 (9 days of overlap)

Read against Aquarius, and see that sign’s horoscope for the period.

24 days · retreats 8.63°

31 May → 24 June 1988 in Gemini

Stations retrograde 31 May 1988, 22:50 UTC at 26.94° Gemini
Stations direct 24 Jun 1988, 22:24 UTC at 18.31° Gemini
Shadow opens 16 May 1988 (15 days before)
Shadow closes 9 Jul 1988 (15 days after)
Full window including shadows 54 days

Mercury retrograde in Gemini

In Gemini, one of Mercury's own signs, the retrograde is at its most talkative and scattered: crossed wires, double-booked diaries, lost chargers and conversations that go round in circles. It rewards editing, rereading and catching up with people you lost touch with.

It begins in Gemini season and ends in Cancer season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Venus in Cancer — 31 May to 24 Jun 1988 (24 days of overlap)
  • Saturn in Capricorn — 31 May to 24 Jun 1988 (24 days of overlap)
  • Uranus in Capricorn — 31 May to 24 Jun 1988 (24 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Capricorn — 31 May to 24 Jun 1988 (24 days of overlap)
  • Pluto in Scorpio — 31 May to 24 Jun 1988 (24 days of overlap)

Read against Gemini, and see that sign’s horoscope for the period.

21 days · retreats 15.41°

28 September → 20 October 1988 in Libra

Stations retrograde 28 Sep 1988, 21:34 UTC at 27.22° Libra
Stations direct 20 Oct 1988, 05:14 UTC at 11.8° Libra
Shadow opens 8 Sep 1988 (20 days before)
Shadow closes 4 Nov 1988 (16 days after)
Full window including shadows 57 days

Mercury retrograde in Libra

In Libra the retrograde centres on relationships, agreements and contracts. Negotiations stall or reopen, misunderstandings arise in partnerships, and people from the past reappear. It favours renegotiating terms and clarifying what was assumed rather than signing new deals.

It begins in Libra season and ends in Libra season, inside a single month of the Sun's year.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Mars in Aries — 28 Sep to 20 Oct 1988 (21 days of overlap)
  • Jupiter in Gemini — 28 Sep to 20 Oct 1988 (21 days of overlap)

Read against Libra, and see that sign’s horoscope for the period.

Computed from the actual motion

The nearest Mercury retrogrades either side of 1988

Previous

1987 Ended 6 November 1987 after 21 days, moving back 15.82° through the zodiac.

Next

1989 Begins 16 January 1989 and runs 21 days.

Gap across 1988

1.2 years between the two — long enough for a whole calendar year to fall inside it with nothing to report.

Both dates are computed from the planet’s apparent motion, not taken from a table. A retrograde begins the moment its daily movement against the stars turns negative, and that moment is findable to the hour.

Computed for 1988

Mercury through the zodiac in 1988

Every sign Mercury occupies during 1988, with the dates it enters and leaves. A sign that appears twice means the planet backed into the previous sign during a retrograde and crossed again.

Mercury in Capricorn From 1 Jan – 10 Jan
Mercury in Aquarius 10 Jan – 16 Mar
Mercury in Pisces 16 Mar – 4 Apr
Mercury in Aries 4 Apr – 20 Apr
Mercury in Taurus 20 Apr – 4 May
Mercury in Gemini 4 May – 12 Jul
Mercury in Cancer 12 Jul – 28 Jul
Mercury in Leo 28 Jul – 12 Aug
Mercury in Virgo 12 Aug – 30 Aug
Mercury in Libra 30 Aug – 6 Nov
Mercury in Scorpio 6 Nov – 25 Nov
Mercury in Sagittarius 25 Nov – 14 Dec
Mercury in Capricorn 14 Dec – 31 Dec and beyond

13 segments in 1988. Dates from JPL orbital elements, good to about a day at sign changes.

1988 at a glance

Every other retrograde in 1988

Pluto in Scorpio 14 Feb 1988 – 20 Jul 1988 · 157 days
Uranus in Capricorn 4 Apr 1988 – 5 Sep 1988 · 154 days
Saturn in Capricorn 10 Apr 1988 – 30 Aug 1988 · 141 days
Neptune in Capricorn 11 Apr 1988 – 18 Sep 1988 · 160 days
Venus in Cancer 22 May 1988 – 4 Jul 1988 · 43 days
Mars in Aries 26 Aug 1988 – 28 Oct 1988 · 63 days
Jupiter in Gemini 24 Sep 1988 – 20 Jan 1989 · 118 days
← 1987 Mercury retrograde in 1987. All Mercury retrogrades Averages, shadow periods and the sign distribution over fifty years. 1989 → Mercury retrograde in 1989.