Mercury retrograde 2002: 3 periods, 67 days inside the year — 18.3% of 2002. Mercury turned retrograde at 8:50 PM UTC on January 18 at 14°28′ Aquarius and turned direct at 5:28 PM UTC on February 8 at 28°37′ Capricorn. The other four stations are in the table below.
Turns retrograde
Jan 18 8:50 PM UTC
Loops in 2002
3 retrograde periods
Retrograde in 2002
67 days 18.3% of the year
Signs
Aquarius, Gemini, Libra last loop retreats 14.92°
Mercury’s path through 2002, day by day
Apparent position of Mercury against the zodiac, 2002
RetrogradeShadowR — stations retrograde · D — stations direct
Mercury starts 2002 at 25°34′ Capricorn and ends it at 28°10′ Capricorn — a full lap of the zodiac plus 2.6°: 402° forward, 39.4° given back. Its three loops retrace 15.85°, 8.63° and 14.92° (21, 24 and 22 days). Fastest day: Jul 18, 2.14° forward; fastest backward: Jan 28, 1.26°. Counting the shadows, 183 days of 2002 sit inside a retrograde window.
18 pages · printable
The 2027 Sky Calendar — free PDF
Every retrograde, eclipse, new and full moon of 2027 to the minute,
already converted to your city. A month to a page, ready to print.
Exact times
Mercury retrograde 2002: exact times in your city
Mercury turned retrograde at 8:50 PM UTC on January 18, 2002 at 14°28′ Aquarius — 5:50 PM in Santiago, 3:50 PM in New York, 8:50 PM in London and 5:50 AM on January 19 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 15.85°
January 18 → February 8, 2002 in Aquarius
Stations retrograde
Jan 18, 2002, 8:50 PM UTC at
14°28′ Aquarius
Stations direct
Feb 8, 2002, 5:28 PM UTC at
28°37′ Capricorn
Shadow opens
Jan 2, 2002, 11:45 PM UTC
(16 days before)
Shadow closes
Feb 28, 2002, 8:50 PM UTC
(20 days after)
Full window including shadows57 days
The January loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 15.85° between 28°37′ Capricorn and 14°28′ 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 Cancer —
Jan 18 to Feb 8, 2002 (21 days of overlap)
Saturn
in Gemini —
Jan 18 to Feb 8, 2002 (20 days of overlap)
Stations retrograde
May 15, 2002, 6:50 PM UTC at
9°59′ Gemini
Stations direct
Jun 8, 2002, 3:11 PM UTC at
1°21′ Gemini
Shadow opens
May 1, 2002, 9:44 AM UTC
(14 days before)
Shadow closes
Jun 24, 2002, 12:03 AM UTC
(15 days after)
Full window including shadows54 days
The May loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 8.63° between 1°21′ Gemini and 9°59′ Gemini three times: forward in the pre-shadow (14 days), back while retrograde (24 days), forward again in the post-shadow (15 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 Taurus season and ends in
Gemini season.
Also retrograde at the same time
Neptune
in Aquarius —
May 15 to Jun 8, 2002 (24 days of overlap)
Pluto
in Sagittarius —
May 15 to Jun 8, 2002 (24 days of overlap)
Uranus
in Aquarius —
Jun 3 to Jun 8, 2002 (6 days of overlap)
Stations retrograde
Sep 14, 2002, 7:38 PM UTC at
13°14′ Libra
Stations direct
Oct 6, 2002, 7:26 PM UTC at
28°19′ Virgo
Shadow opens
Aug 25, 2002, 11:25 AM UTC
(20 days before)
Shadow closes
Oct 21, 2002, 6:42 PM UTC
(15 days after)
Full window including shadows57 days
The September loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 14.92° between 28°19′ Virgo and 13°14′ 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
Uranus
in Aquarius —
Sep 14 to Oct 6, 2002 (22 days of overlap)
Neptune
in Aquarius —
Sep 14 to Oct 6, 2002 (22 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 2002
Mercury through the zodiac in 2002
Every sign Mercury occupies during 2002, 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 2002 Dates: Jan 18, May 15, Sep 14.” Accessed October 30, 2026. https://astrohot.com/retrograde/mercury/2002/
For Wikipedia{{cite web |title=Mercury Retrograde 2002 Dates: Jan 18, May 15, Sep 14 |url=https://astrohot.com/retrograde/mercury/2002/ |website=AstroHot |access-date=2026-10-30}}
Free · PDF · 18 pages
The 2027 Sky Calendar
Every retrograde, eclipse, new and full moon of 2027 — to the minute, printed in your own time zone.
