Mercury retrograde 1989: 4 periods, 68 days inside the year — 18.6% of 1989. Mercury turned retrograde at 1:46 AM UTC on January 16 at 11°53′ Aquarius and turned direct at 8:07 PM UTC on February 5 at 25°58′ Capricorn. The other 6 stations are in the table below.
Turns retrograde
Jan 16 1:46 AM UTC
Loops in 1989
4 retrograde periods
Retrograde in 1989
68 days 18.6% of the year
Signs
Aquarius, Gemini, Libra, Capricorn last loop retreats 16.2°
Mercury’s path through 1989, day by day
Apparent position of Mercury against the zodiac, Jan 1, 1989 – Jan 26, 1990
RetrogradeShadowR — stations retrograde · D — stations direct
Mercury starts 1989 at 27°11′ Capricorn and ends it at 25°39′ Capricorn — 358.5° of net progress: 398° forward, 39.5° given back. Its four loops retrace 15.91°, 8.7°, 14.82° and 16.2° (21, 24, 22 and 20 days). Fastest day: Jul 15, 2.15° forward; fastest backward: Jan 25, 1.27°. Counting the shadows, 185 days of 1989 sit inside a retrograde window.
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Exact times
Mercury retrograde 1989: exact times in your city
Mercury turned retrograde at 1:46 AM UTC on January 16, 1989 at 11°53′ Aquarius — 10:46 PM on January 15 in Santiago, 8:46 PM on January 15 in New York, 1:46 AM in London and 10:46 AM in Tokyo.
Stations from the NASA JPL DE440 ephemeris. Swiss Ephemeris agrees on every Mercury station 1900–2050: all within a minute. Local times: IANA time zones, to the minute.
21 days · retreats 15.91°
January 16 → February 5, 1989 in Aquarius
Stations retrograde
Jan 16, 1989, 1:46 AM UTC at
11°53′ Aquarius
Stations direct
Feb 5, 1989, 8:07 PM UTC at
25°58′ Capricorn
Shadow opens
Dec 31, 1988, 1:57 AM UTC
(16 days before)
Shadow closes
Feb 25, 1989, 10:46 PM UTC
(20 days after)
Full window including shadows57 days
The January loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 15.91° between 25°58′ Capricorn and 11°53′ Aquarius three times: forward in the pre-shadow (16 days), back while retrograde (21 days), forward again in the post-shadow (20 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 reorganizing 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 —
Jan 16 to Jan 20, 1989 (4 days of overlap)
Stations retrograde
May 12, 1989, 11:52 AM UTC at
6°51′ Gemini
Stations direct
Jun 5, 1989, 8:07 AM UTC at
28°09′ Taurus
Shadow opens
Apr 28, 1989, 5:04 AM UTC
(14 days before)
Shadow closes
Jun 20, 1989, 8:09 PM UTC
(16 days after)
Full window including shadows54 days
The May loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 8.7° between 28°09′ Taurus and 6°51′ Gemini three times: forward in the pre-shadow (14 days), back while retrograde (24 days), forward again in the post-shadow (16 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 —
May 12 to Jun 5, 1989 (24 days of overlap)
Uranus
in Capricorn —
May 12 to Jun 5, 1989 (24 days of overlap)
Neptune
in Capricorn —
May 12 to Jun 5, 1989 (24 days of overlap)
Pluto
in Scorpio —
May 12 to Jun 5, 1989 (24 days of overlap)
Stations retrograde
Sep 11, 1989, 8:57 PM UTC at
10°33′ Libra
Stations direct
Oct 3, 1989, 11:48 PM UTC at
25°44′ Virgo
Shadow opens
Aug 22, 1989, 1:36 PM UTC
(20 days before)
Shadow closes
Oct 18, 1989, 9:02 PM UTC
(15 days after)
Full window including shadows57 days
The September loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 14.82° between 25°44′ Virgo and 10°33′ Libra three times: forward in the pre-shadow (20 days), back while retrograde (22 days), forward again in the post-shadow (15 days).
Mercury retrograde in Libra
In Libra the retrograde centers on relationships, agreements and contracts. Negotiations stall or reopen, misunderstandings arise in partnerships, and people from the past reappear. It favors 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 —
Sep 11 to Sep 21, 1989 (9 days of overlap)
20 days · retreats 16.2°
· crosses the year boundary
December 30, 1989 → January 20, 1990 in Capricorn
Stations retrograde
Dec 30, 1989, 11:29 PM UTC at
25°53′ Capricorn
Stations direct
Jan 20, 1990, 4:31 AM UTC at
9°42′ Capricorn
Shadow opens
Dec 14, 1989, 3:57 AM UTC
(17 days before)
Shadow closes
Feb 8, 1990, 10:10 PM UTC
(20 days after)
Full window including shadows57 days
The December loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 16.2° between 9°42′ Capricorn and 25°53′ Capricorn three times: forward in the pre-shadow (17 days), back while retrograde (20 days), forward again in the post-shadow (20 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 reorganizing rather than for starting new ventures.
It begins and ends within Capricorn season.
Also retrograde at the same time
Venus
in Aquarius —
Dec 30 to Jan 20, 1990 (20 days of overlap)
Jupiter
in Cancer —
Dec 30 to Jan 20, 1990 (20 days of overlap)
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.
AstroHot. “Mercury Retrograde 1989: Jan 16, May 12, Sep 11, Dec 30.” Accessed October 31, 2026. https://astrohot.com/retrograde/mercury/1989/
For Wikipedia{{cite web |title=Mercury Retrograde 1989: Jan 16, May 12, Sep 11, Dec 30 |url=https://astrohot.com/retrograde/mercury/1989/ |website=AstroHot |access-date=2026-10-31}}
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