Mercury retrograde 1996

4 periods, 75 days inside the year — 20.5% of 1996. Station times below are UTC and computed to the minute.

21 days · retreats 16.06°

9 January → 30 January 1996 in Aquarius

Stations retrograde 9 Jan 1996, 21:44 UTC at 5.22° Aquarius
Stations direct 30 Jan 1996, 10:10 UTC at 19.16° Capricorn
Shadow opens 24 Dec 1995 (16 days before)
Shadow closes 19 Feb 1996 (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.

No other planet is retrograde during this period, which is unusual.

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

24 days · retreats 9°

3 May → 27 May 1996 in Taurus

Stations retrograde 3 May 1996, 22:45 UTC at 28.69° Taurus
Stations direct 27 May 1996, 18:45 UTC at 19.69° Taurus
Shadow opens 19 Apr 1996 (14 days before)
Shadow closes 12 Jun 1996 (16 days after)
Full window including shadows 54 days

Mercury retrograde in 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

  • Neptune in Capricorn — 3 May to 27 May 1996 (24 days of overlap)
  • Pluto in Sagittarius — 3 May to 27 May 1996 (24 days of overlap)
  • Jupiter in Capricorn — 4 May to 27 May 1996 (23 days of overlap)
  • Uranus in Aquarius — 8 May to 27 May 1996 (19 days of overlap)
  • Venus in Gemini — 20 May to 27 May 1996 (8 days of overlap)

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

22 days · retreats 14.49°

4 September → 26 September 1996 in Libra

Stations retrograde 4 Sep 1996, 05:44 UTC at 3.54° Libra
Stations direct 26 Sep 1996, 16:57 UTC at 19.05° Virgo
Shadow opens 15 Aug 1996 (20 days before)
Shadow closes 11 Oct 1996 (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

  • Saturn in Aries — 4 Sep to 26 Sep 1996 (22 days of overlap)
  • Uranus in Aquarius — 4 Sep to 26 Sep 1996 (22 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Capricorn — 4 Sep to 26 Sep 1996 (22 days of overlap)

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

20 days · retreats 16.26° · crosses the year boundary

23 December → 12 January 1997 in Capricorn

Stations retrograde 23 Dec 1996, 19:38 UTC at 19.27° Capricorn
Stations direct 12 Jan 1997, 20:42 UTC at 3.01° Capricorn
Shadow opens 6 Dec 1996 (17 days before)
Shadow closes 1 Feb 1997 (19 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.

No other planet is retrograde during this period, which is unusual.

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

Computed from the actual motion

The nearest Mercury retrogrades either side of 1996

Previous

1995 Ended 14 October 1995 after 22 days, moving back 15.19° through the zodiac.

Next

1997 Begins 23 December 1996 and runs 20 days.

Gap across 1996

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.

1996 at a glance

Every other retrograde in 1996

Pluto in Sagittarius 5 Mar 1996 – 10 Aug 1996 · 158 days
Neptune in Capricorn 29 Apr 1996 – 6 Oct 1996 · 160 days
Jupiter in Capricorn 4 May 1996 – 3 Sep 1996 · 122 days
Uranus in Aquarius 8 May 1996 – 9 Oct 1996 · 154 days
Venus in Gemini 20 May 1996 – 2 Jul 1996 · 43 days
Saturn in Aries 18 Jul 1996 – 3 Dec 1996 · 138 days
← 1995 Mercury retrograde in 1995. All Mercury retrogrades Averages, shadow periods and the sign distribution over fifty years. 1997 → Mercury retrograde in 1997.