Mercury retrograde 1997

4 periods, 79 days inside the year — 21.5% of 1997. Station times below are UTC and computed to the minute.

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.

24 days · retreats 10.18°

14 April → 8 May 1997 in Taurus

Stations retrograde 14 Apr 1997, 23:55 UTC at 9.69° Taurus
Stations direct 8 May 1997, 18:09 UTC at 29.51° Aries
Shadow opens 1 Apr 1997 (14 days before)
Shadow closes 25 May 1997 (17 days after)
Full window including shadows 55 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.

…and back into Aries

In Aries the retrograde tends to show up as hasty words and rushed decisions coming back for review. Messages sent in anger, plans launched without checking and arguments started on impulse are the classic material. The useful version is slower starts: finish the draft, reread it, then press send.

It begins in Aries season and ends in Taurus season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Mars in Libra — 14 Apr to 27 Apr 1997 (13 days of overlap)
  • Pluto in Sagittarius — 14 Apr to 8 May 1997 (24 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Capricorn — 1 May to 8 May 1997 (7 days of overlap)

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

23 days · retreats 13.53°

17 August → 10 September 1997 in Virgo

Stations retrograde 17 Aug 1997, 19:51 UTC at 16.27° Virgo
Stations direct 10 Sep 1997, 01:35 UTC at 2.73° Virgo
Shadow opens 29 Jul 1997 (20 days before)
Shadow closes 24 Sep 1997 (14 days after)
Full window including shadows 57 days

Mercury retrograde in 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 Leo season and ends in Virgo season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Jupiter in Aquarius — 17 Aug to 10 Sep 1997 (23 days of overlap)
  • Saturn in Aries — 17 Aug to 10 Sep 1997 (23 days of overlap)
  • Uranus in Aquarius — 17 Aug to 10 Sep 1997 (23 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Capricorn — 17 Aug to 10 Sep 1997 (23 days of overlap)

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

20 days · retreats 16.31°

7 December → 27 December 1997 in Capricorn

Stations retrograde 7 Dec 1997, 16:46 UTC at 3.4° Capricorn
Stations direct 27 Dec 1997, 11:46 UTC at 17.09° Sagittarius
Shadow opens 19 Nov 1997 (18 days before)
Shadow closes 15 Jan 1998 (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.

…and back into Sagittarius

In Sagittarius the retrograde affects travel, study and beliefs. Journeys are delayed, paperwork for visas or courses gets stuck, and opinions stated too confidently need walking back. It suits revisiting plans for the bigger picture before committing to them.

It begins in Sagittarius season and ends in Capricorn season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Saturn in Aries — 7 Dec to 16 Dec 1997 (9 days of overlap)
  • Venus in Aquarius — 26 Dec to 27 Dec 1997 (1 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 1997

Previous

1996 Ended 12 January 1997 after 20 days, moving back 16.26° through the zodiac.

Next

1998 Begins 27 March 1998 and runs 24 days.

Gap across 1997

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.

1997 at a glance

Every other retrograde in 1997

Mars in Libra 6 Feb 1997 – 27 Apr 1997 · 81 days
Pluto in Sagittarius 8 Mar 1997 – 13 Aug 1997 · 158 days
Neptune in Capricorn 1 May 1997 – 9 Oct 1997 · 160 days
Uranus in Aquarius 12 May 1997 – 14 Oct 1997 · 154 days
Jupiter in Aquarius 10 Jun 1997 – 8 Oct 1997 · 120 days
Saturn in Aries 1 Aug 1997 – 16 Dec 1997 · 137 days
Venus in Aquarius 26 Dec 1997 – 5 Feb 1998 · 41 days
← 1996 Mercury retrograde in 1996. All Mercury retrogrades Averages, shadow periods and the sign distribution over fifty years. 1998 → Mercury retrograde in 1998.