Mercury retrograde 2003

4 periods, 81 days inside the year — 22.3% of 2003. Station times below are UTC and computed to the minute.

20 days · retreats 16.17°

2 January → 23 January 2003 in Capricorn

Stations retrograde 2 Jan 2003, 18:05 UTC at 28.43° Capricorn
Stations direct 23 Jan 2003, 01:06 UTC at 12.26° Capricorn
Shadow opens 17 Dec 2002 (17 days before)
Shadow closes 11 Feb 2003 (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 Aquarius season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Jupiter in Leo — 2 Jan to 23 Jan 2003 (20 days of overlap)
  • Saturn in Gemini — 2 Jan to 23 Jan 2003 (20 days of overlap)
  • Saturn in Gemini — 2 Jan to 23 Jan 2003 (20 days of overlap)

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

24 days · retreats 9.43°

26 April → 20 May 2003 in Taurus

Stations retrograde 26 Apr 2003, 11:54 UTC at 20.51° Taurus
Stations direct 20 May 2003, 07:25 UTC at 11.08° Taurus
Shadow opens 12 Apr 2003 (14 days before)
Shadow closes 5 Jun 2003 (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 Taurus season, inside a single month of the Sun's year.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Pluto in Sagittarius — 26 Apr to 20 May 2003 (24 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Aquarius — 15 May to 20 May 2003 (5 days of overlap)

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

23 days · retreats 14.12°

28 August → 20 September 2003 in Virgo

Stations retrograde 28 Aug 2003, 13:26 UTC at 26.28° Virgo
Stations direct 20 Sep 2003, 08:51 UTC at 12.16° Virgo
Shadow opens 8 Aug 2003 (20 days before)
Shadow closes 4 Oct 2003 (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 Virgo season and ends in Virgo season, inside a single month of the Sun's year.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Mars in Pisces — 28 Aug to 20 Sep 2003 (23 days of overlap)
  • Uranus in Pisces — 28 Aug to 20 Sep 2003 (23 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Aquarius — 28 Aug to 20 Sep 2003 (23 days of overlap)
  • Pluto in Sagittarius — 28 Aug to 28 Aug 2003 (0 days of overlap)

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

20 days · retreats 16.3° · crosses the year boundary

17 December → 6 January 2004 in Capricorn

Stations retrograde 17 Dec 2003, 15:53 UTC at 12.52° Capricorn
Stations direct 6 Jan 2004, 13:40 UTC at 26.22° Sagittarius
Shadow opens 30 Nov 2003 (18 days before)
Shadow closes 25 Jan 2004 (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 Cancer — 17 Dec to 6 Jan 2004 (20 days of overlap)
  • Saturn in Cancer — 17 Dec to 6 Jan 2004 (20 days of overlap)
  • Jupiter in Virgo — 3 Jan to 6 Jan 2004 (3 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 2003

Previous

2002 Ended 6 October 2002 after 22 days, moving back 14.92° through the zodiac.

Next

2004 Begins 17 December 2003 and runs 20 days.

Gap across 2003

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.

2003 at a glance

Every other retrograde in 2003

Saturn in Gemini 22 Nov 2002 – 22 Feb 2003 · 92 days
Jupiter in Leo 4 Dec 2002 – 4 Apr 2003 · 121 days
Pluto in Sagittarius 22 Mar 2003 – 28 Aug 2003 · 159 days
Neptune in Aquarius 15 May 2003 – 22 Oct 2003 · 160 days
Uranus in Pisces 7 Jun 2003 – 8 Nov 2003 · 154 days
Mars in Pisces 29 Jul 2003 – 27 Sep 2003 · 60 days
Saturn in Cancer 25 Oct 2003 – 9 Feb 2004 · 107 days
← 2002 Mercury retrograde in 2002. All Mercury retrogrades Averages, shadow periods and the sign distribution over fifty years. 2004 → Mercury retrograde in 2004.