Mercury retrograde 1989

4 periods, 68 days inside the year — 18.6% of 1989. Station times below are UTC and computed to the minute.

21 days · retreats 15.91°

16 January → 5 February 1989 in Aquarius

Stations retrograde 16 Jan 1989, 01:36 UTC at 12.04° Aquarius
Stations direct 5 Feb 1989, 20:12 UTC at 26.13° Capricorn
Shadow opens 31 Dec 1988 (16 days before)
Shadow closes 25 Feb 1989 (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.

…and back into Capricorn

In Capricorn the retrograde hits career plans, authority and long-term structures. Deadlines slip, approvals are delayed and managers change their minds. It is traditionally used for reviewing goals and reorganising rather than for starting new ventures.

It begins in Capricorn season and ends in Aquarius season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Jupiter in Gemini — 16 Jan to 20 Jan 1989 (4 days of overlap)
  • Jupiter in Gemini — 16 Jan to 20 Jan 1989 (4 days of overlap)

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

24 days · retreats 8.7°

12 May → 5 June 1989 in Gemini

Stations retrograde 12 May 1989, 11:46 UTC at 7° Gemini
Stations direct 5 Jun 1989, 08:16 UTC at 28.31° Taurus
Shadow opens 28 Apr 1989 (14 days before)
Shadow closes 20 Jun 1989 (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.

…and back into Taurus

In Taurus the retrograde lands on money, possessions and practical plans. Purchases get returned, payments are delayed, and decisions about property or savings are revisited. It is traditionally a good window for reviewing budgets rather than making large new commitments.

It begins in Taurus season and ends in Gemini season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Saturn in Capricorn — 12 May to 5 Jun 1989 (24 days of overlap)
  • Uranus in Capricorn — 12 May to 5 Jun 1989 (24 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Capricorn — 12 May to 5 Jun 1989 (24 days of overlap)
  • Pluto in Scorpio — 12 May to 5 Jun 1989 (24 days of overlap)

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

22 days · retreats 14.82°

11 September → 3 October 1989 in Libra

Stations retrograde 11 Sep 1989, 20:49 UTC at 10.7° Libra
Stations direct 3 Oct 1989, 23:42 UTC at 25.88° Virgo
Shadow opens 22 Aug 1989 (20 days before)
Shadow closes 18 Oct 1989 (15 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.

…and back into Virgo

In Virgo, Mercury's other home sign, the retrograde focuses on work routines, health and detail. Schedules unravel, small errors multiply, and systems that seemed fine reveal flaws. It is ideal for audits, decluttering and fixing processes before starting anything new.

It begins in Virgo season and ends in Libra season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Neptune in Capricorn — 11 Sep to 21 Sep 1989 (9 days of overlap)

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

20 days · retreats 16.2° · crosses the year boundary

30 December → 20 January 1990 in Capricorn

Stations retrograde 30 Dec 1989, 23:15 UTC at 26.03° Capricorn
Stations direct 20 Jan 1990, 04:33 UTC at 9.84° Capricorn
Shadow opens 14 Dec 1989 (17 days before)
Shadow closes 8 Feb 1990 (20 days after)
Full window including shadows 57 days

Mercury retrograde in Capricorn

In Capricorn the retrograde hits career plans, authority and long-term structures. Deadlines slip, approvals are delayed and managers change their minds. It is traditionally used for reviewing goals and reorganising rather than for starting new ventures.

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

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Venus in Aquarius — 30 Dec to 20 Jan 1990 (20 days of overlap)
  • Jupiter in Cancer — 30 Dec to 20 Jan 1990 (20 days of overlap)
  • Jupiter in Cancer — 30 Dec to 20 Jan 1990 (20 days of overlap)

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

Computed from the actual motion

The nearest Mercury retrogrades either side of 1989

Previous

1988 Ended 20 October 1988 after 21 days, moving back 15.41° through the zodiac.

Next

1990 Begins 30 December 1989 and runs 20 days.

Gap across 1989

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 1989

Mercury through the zodiac in 1989

Every sign Mercury occupies during 1989, 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 – 2 Jan
Mercury in Aquarius 2 Jan – 29 Jan
Mercury in Capricorn 29 Jan – 14 Feb
Mercury in Aquarius 14 Feb – 10 Mar
Mercury in Pisces 10 Mar – 28 Mar
Mercury in Aries 28 Mar – 11 Apr
Mercury in Taurus 11 Apr – 29 Apr
Mercury in Gemini 29 Apr – 29 May
Mercury in Taurus 29 May – 12 Jun
Mercury in Gemini 12 Jun – 5 Jul
Mercury in Cancer 5 Jul – 20 Jul
Mercury in Leo 20 Jul – 4 Aug
Mercury in Virgo 4 Aug – 26 Aug
Mercury in Libra 26 Aug – 26 Sep
Mercury in Virgo 26 Sep – 11 Oct
Mercury in Libra 11 Oct – 30 Oct
Mercury in Scorpio 30 Oct – 18 Nov
Mercury in Sagittarius 18 Nov – 7 Dec
Mercury in Capricorn 7 Dec – 31 Dec and beyond

19 segments in 1989. Dates from JPL orbital elements, good to about a day at sign changes.

1989 at a glance

Every other retrograde in 1989

Jupiter in Gemini 22 Nov 1988 – 20 Jan 1989 · 59 days
Pluto in Scorpio 16 Feb 1989 – 22 Jul 1989 · 157 days
Uranus in Capricorn 9 Apr 1989 – 10 Sep 1989 · 154 days
Neptune in Capricorn 13 Apr 1989 – 21 Sep 1989 · 160 days
Saturn in Capricorn 22 Apr 1989 – 11 Sep 1989 · 141 days
Jupiter in Cancer 29 Oct 1989 – 9 Feb 1990 · 104 days
Venus in Aquarius 29 Dec 1989 – 8 Feb 1990 · 41 days
← 1988 Mercury retrograde in 1988. All Mercury retrogrades Averages, shadow periods and the sign distribution over fifty years. 1990 → Mercury retrograde in 1990.