Mercury retrograde 2009: 4 periods, 72 days inside the year — 19.8% of 2009. Mercury turned retrograde at 4:44 PM UTC on January 11 at 7°45′ Aquarius and turned direct at 7:10 AM UTC on February 1 at 21°45′ Capricorn. The other 6 stations are in the table below.
Turns retrograde
Jan 11 4:44 PM UTC
Loops in 2009
4 retrograde periods
Retrograde in 2009
72 days 19.8% of the year
Signs
Aquarius, Gemini, Libra, Capricorn last loop retreats 16.24°
Mercury’s path through 2009, day by day
Apparent position of Mercury against the zodiac, Jan 1, 2009 – Jan 21, 2010
RetrogradeShadowR — stations retrograde · D — stations direct
Mercury starts 2009 at 29°28′ Capricorn and ends it at 19°00′ Capricorn — 349.5° of net progress: 391.8° forward, 42.2° given back. Its four loops retrace 16.01°, 8.87°, 14.61° and 16.24° (21, 24, 22 and 20 days). Fastest day: Jul 12, 2.16° forward; fastest backward: Jan 20, 1.29°. Counting the shadows, 185 days of 2009 sit inside a retrograde window.
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Exact times
Mercury retrograde 2009: exact times in your city
Mercury turned retrograde at 4:44 PM UTC on January 11, 2009 at 7°45′ Aquarius — 1:44 PM in Santiago, 11:44 AM in New York, 4:44 PM in London and 1:44 AM on January 12 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 16.01°
January 11 → February 1, 2009 in Aquarius
Stations retrograde
Jan 11, 2009, 4:44 PM UTC at
7°45′ Aquarius
Stations direct
Feb 1, 2009, 7:10 AM UTC at
21°45′ Capricorn
Shadow opens
Dec 26, 2008, 11:43 AM UTC
(16 days before)
Shadow closes
Feb 21, 2009, 7:49 AM UTC
(20 days after)
Full window including shadows57 days
The January loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 16.01° between 21°45′ Capricorn and 7°45′ 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
Saturn
in Virgo —
Jan 11 to Feb 1, 2009 (21 days of overlap)
Stations retrograde
May 7, 2009, 5:00 AM UTC at
1°44′ Gemini
Stations direct
May 31, 2009, 1:22 AM UTC at
22°52′ Taurus
Shadow opens
Apr 23, 2009, 1:53 AM UTC
(14 days before)
Shadow closes
Jun 15, 2009, 7:25 PM UTC
(16 days after)
Full window including shadows54 days
The May loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 8.87° between 22°52′ Taurus and 1°44′ 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 Virgo —
May 7 to May 17, 2009 (10 days of overlap)
Pluto
in Capricorn —
May 7 to May 31, 2009 (24 days of overlap)
Neptune
in Aquarius —
May 29 to May 31, 2009 (2 days of overlap)
Stations retrograde
Sep 7, 2009, 4:45 AM UTC at
6°13′ Libra
Stations direct
Sep 29, 2009, 1:13 PM UTC at
21°36′ Virgo
Shadow opens
Aug 17, 2009, 11:20 PM UTC
(20 days before)
Shadow closes
Oct 14, 2009, 6:49 AM UTC
(15 days after)
Full window including shadows57 days
The September loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 14.61° between 21°36′ Virgo and 6°13′ 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
Jupiter
in Aquarius —
Sep 7 to Sep 29, 2009 (22 days of overlap)
Uranus
in Pisces —
Sep 7 to Sep 29, 2009 (22 days of overlap)
Neptune
in Aquarius —
Sep 7 to Sep 29, 2009 (22 days of overlap)
Pluto
in Capricorn —
Sep 7 to Sep 11, 2009 (5 days of overlap)
20 days · retreats 16.24°
· crosses the year boundary
December 26, 2009 → January 15, 2010 in Capricorn
Stations retrograde
Dec 26, 2009, 2:38 PM UTC at
21°47′ Capricorn
Stations direct
Jan 15, 2010, 4:52 PM UTC at
5°32′ Capricorn
Shadow opens
Dec 9, 2009, 1:38 PM UTC
(17 days before)
Shadow closes
Feb 4, 2010, 7:04 AM UTC
(20 days after)
Full window including shadows57 days
The December loop up close, shadow to shadow
Mercury crosses the 16.24° between 5°32′ Capricorn and 21°47′ 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
Mars
in Leo —
Dec 26 to Jan 15, 2010 (20 days of overlap)
Saturn
in Libra —
Jan 13 to Jan 15, 2010 (2 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 2009
Mercury through the zodiac in 2009
Every sign Mercury occupies during 2009, 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 2009 Dates: Jan 11, May 7, Sep 7, Dec 26.” Accessed October 30, 2026. https://astrohot.com/retrograde/mercury/2009/
For Wikipedia{{cite web |title=Mercury Retrograde 2009 Dates: Jan 11, May 7, Sep 7, Dec 26 |url=https://astrohot.com/retrograde/mercury/2009/ |website=AstroHot |access-date=2026-10-30}}
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