2028 at a glance
| Retrograde | Signs | Shadow period |
|---|---|---|
| to | Aquarius | to |
| to | Gemini | to |
| to | Libra | to |
Every 2028 retrograde in detail
1. January 24 to February 14: Mercury retrograde in Aquarius
- Pre-shadow beginsMercury reaches 3°59′ Aquarius, the degree it will retreat to.
- Stations retrogradeAt 19°42′ Aquarius.
- Stations directAt 3°59′ Aquarius.
- Post-shadow endsMercury passes 19°42′ Aquarius again and leaves the retrograde zone.
Mercury retrograde in Aquarius is traditionally linked with friends, groups, technology and future plans.
2. May 21 to June 14: Mercury retrograde in Gemini
- Pre-shadow beginsMercury reaches 7°46′ Gemini, the degree it will retreat to.
- Stations retrogradeAt 16°19′ Gemini.
- Stations directAt 7°46′ Gemini.
- Post-shadow endsMercury passes 16°19′ Gemini again and leaves the retrograde zone.
Mercury retrograde in Gemini is traditionally linked with conversations, messages, siblings, short trips and paperwork.
3. September 19 to October 11: Mercury retrograde in Libra
- Pre-shadow beginsMercury reaches 3°29′ Libra, the degree it will retreat to.
- Stations retrogradeAt 18°36′ Libra.
- Stations directAt 3°29′ Libra.
- Post-shadow endsMercury passes 18°36′ Libra again and leaves the retrograde zone.
Mercury retrograde in Libra is traditionally linked with relationships, agreements and finding balance.
What Mercury retrograde is
Mercury never actually reverses. It orbits the Sun in 88 days, much faster than Earth, and about three times a year it passes between Earth and the Sun. As it overtakes us on the inside track, it appears from Earth to slow down, stop, drift backward against the stars for about three weeks, stop again and move forward. The two turning points are called stations.
The shadow periods
The pre-shadow starts when Mercury first reaches the degree where the retrograde will end. The post-shadow ends when Mercury returns to the degree where it turned retrograde. Between those two dates Mercury covers the same stretch of sky three times, which is why many astrologers treat the whole window, usually about two months, as one retrograde cycle.
What it means in astrology
Mercury rules communication, travel, contracts and technology, so astrologers associate its retrograde with misunderstandings, delays and glitches, and with a good time to review, revise and reconnect rather than launch. Many people avoid signing contracts or buying electronics during the retrograde itself, or at least double-check the details.
Other years
Mercury retrograde 2026 and Mercury retrograde 2027.
Questions
How often is Mercury retrograde?
Three or four times a year, for about three weeks each time. In total Mercury is retrograde for roughly 19 percent of the year.
Which time zone are these dates in?
The pages are written in US Eastern time with UTC alongside. In your browser, the dates and times switch to your own time zone automatically.
How accurate are the dates?
Mercury’s position is calculated from its orbit and the stations are checked against the Swiss Ephemeris, the standard used by astrologers; every station from 2020 to 2030 matches to within 20 minutes.
What should I avoid during Mercury retrograde?
Tradition suggests double-checking contracts, travel bookings and important messages, backing up devices, and leaving room for delays. It is considered a good time for editing, finishing old projects and reconnecting with people.