Both stations in Capricorn
Mercury retrograde
December 2029.
Mercury stations retrograde at 17°42′ Capricorn on December 22, 2029 at 05:51 UTC and stations direct at 1°26′ Capricorn on January 11, 2030 at 05:45 UTC. Pre-shadow begins December 4, 2029 at 23:17 UTC, the cazimi is December 31, 2029 at 12:28 UTC, at 10°07′ Capricorn, and post-shadow ends January 30, 2030 at 15:54 UTC.
Dates below are UTC, to the minute.
Station dates
The five moments of the December 2029 Mercury cycle. Both stations are in Capricorn. The retrograde lasts 20 days.
| Phase | UTC | Your time | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow starts | Dec 4, 2029 · 23:17 | UTC only | — |
| Station retrograde | Dec 22, 2029 · 05:51 | UTC only | 17°42′ Capricorn |
| Cazimi (Mercury–Sun) | Dec 31, 2029 · 12:28 | UTC only | 10°07′ Capricorn |
| Station direct | Jan 11, 2030 · 05:45 | UTC only | 1°26′ Capricorn |
| Post-shadow ends | Jan 30, 2030 · 15:54 | UTC only | — |
The cazimi is the inferior conjunction: Mercury passes between Earth and the Sun, in the middle of the retrograde. Mercury is within 17′ of the Sun from 09:37 to 15:19 UTC on December 31, 2029. How these are timed.
Signs and degrees
Mercury retraces 16°16′ of the zodiac: it stations retrograde at 17°42′ Capricorn and backs up to 1°26′ Capricorn before it stations direct. The whole loop stays in Capricorn. Mercury first reaches 1°26′ Capricorn on December 4, 2029, 18 days before the station, and clears 17°42′ Capricorn again on January 30, 2030, 19 days after it turns direct: 57 days on these degrees in all. The cazimi falls on day 10 of 20, at 10°07′ Capricorn.
The last Mercury retrograde station in Capricorn before this one was December 13, 2023 at 07:09 UTC, at 8°29′ Capricorn. The next one is December 6, 2030 at 02:47 UTC, at 1°52′ Capricorn. Since 1900, the closest earlier station to 17°42′ Capricorn came 79 years before, on December 23, 1950 at 14:48 UTC, at 18°11′ Capricorn, 0°29′ away.
What to do in each phase
| Phase | Dates | Traditional focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow | Dec 4, 2029 – Dec 22, 2029 | Finish launches, back up devices, confirm travel and contract details. |
| Retrograde | Dec 22, 2029 – Jan 11, 2030 | Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign. |
| Cazimi | Dec 31, 2029 · 12:28 | A short, clear window inside the retrograde: set one fresh intention. |
| Post-shadow | Jan 11, 2030 – Jan 30, 2030 | Relaunch what was paused and send the revised version. |
Compared with the previous cycle
| September 2029 | This cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Station retrograde | Sep 2, 2029 · 1°50′ Libra | Dec 22, 2029 · 17°42′ Capricorn |
| Station direct | Sep 25, 2029 · 17°27′ Virgo | Jan 11, 2030 · 1°26′ Capricorn |
| Signs | Libra → Virgo | Capricorn |
| Length | 23 days | 20 days |
| Retrograde arc | 14°23′ | 16°16′ |
Mercury moves direct for 88 days between the two retrogrades. This one lasts 20 days, 3 days shorter than the September 2029 cycle, and its retrograde station sits 105°52′ further along the zodiac than the previous one.
Other planets retrograde at the same time
Between December 22, 2029 at 05:51 UTC and January 11, 2030 at 05:45 UTC, 3 other planets are retrograde for at least part of the time:
- Venus in Capricorn, Dec 16, 2029 to Jan 26, 2030
- Saturn in Taurus, Sep 6, 2029 to Jan 19, 2030
- Uranus in Gemini, Sep 23, 2029 to Feb 20, 2030
Moon during this cycle
Principal moon phases between pre-shadow on December 4, 2029 and the end of post-shadow on January 30, 2030. The third column follows your clock.
| Phase | UTC | Your time |
|---|---|---|
 New moon | Dec 5 · 14:52 | UTC only |
 First quarter | Dec 12 · 17:49 | UTC only |
 Full moon | Dec 20 · 22:46 | UTC only |
 Last quarter | Dec 28 · 09:49 | UTC only |
| New moon | Jan 4 · 02:50 | UTC only |
| First quarter | Jan 11 · 14:05 | UTC only |
| Full moon | Jan 19 · 15:54 | UTC only |
| Last quarter | Jan 26 · 18:14 | UTC only |
Moon photographs: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio. All moon phases, 2025–2030.
In the app
Cazimi uses these timestamps for status, the Phase Planner, notifications, and widgets. Cycle status, the daily action, planner, journal history, orbit, cazimi window, and the calendar through 2026 are free. The full Mercury Signal, cycle recap, widgets, playbook, and calendar through 2030 are Premium; the app shows current options and prices before purchase.
Questions
When is Mercury retrograde in December 2029?
Mercury stations retrograde at 17°42′ Capricorn on December 22, 2029 at 05:51 UTC and stations direct at 1°26′ Capricorn on January 11, 2030 at 05:45 UTC. Pre-shadow begins December 4, 2029 at 23:17 UTC, the cazimi is December 31, 2029 at 12:28 UTC, at 10°07′ Capricorn, and post-shadow ends January 30, 2030 at 15:54 UTC.
When does the December 2029 Mercury retrograde end?
Mercury stations direct on January 11, 2030 at 05:45 UTC, at 1°26′ Capricorn, and post-shadow ends January 30, 2030 at 15:54 UTC.
When is the Mercury cazimi in this retrograde?
The cazimi is December 31, 2029 at 12:28 UTC, at 10°07′ Capricorn. Mercury is within 17′ of the Sun from 09:37 to 15:19 UTC on December 31, 2029.
How long is this Mercury retrograde?
20 days from station to station in UTC calendar days, from December 22, 2029 at 05:51 UTC to January 11, 2030 at 05:45 UTC.
What sign is Mercury retrograde in, December 2029?
In Capricorn: both stations fall in the same sign, at 17°42′ Capricorn on December 22, 2029 at 05:51 UTC and at 1°26′ Capricorn on January 11, 2030 at 05:45 UTC.
When is the shadow of the December 2029 Mercury retrograde?
Pre-shadow runs 18 days, from December 4, 2029 at 23:17 UTC to the retrograde station; post-shadow runs 19 days, from the direct station to January 30, 2030 at 15:54 UTC. With the shadow, the cycle spans 57 days.
How does this Mercury retrograde compare with the previous one?
The previous one, September 2029, ran from September 2, 2029 at 12:18 UTC to September 25, 2029 at 02:02 UTC and lasted 23 days; this one lasts 20 days. Mercury moves direct for 88 days in between.
When was Mercury last retrograde in Capricorn?
The last Mercury retrograde station in Capricorn before this one was December 13, 2023 at 07:09 UTC, at 8°29′ Capricorn. The next one is December 6, 2030 at 02:47 UTC, at 1°52′ Capricorn.
Which other planets are retrograde during the December 2029 Mercury retrograde?
Between December 22, 2029 at 05:51 UTC and January 11, 2030 at 05:45 UTC: Venus in Capricorn, Dec 16, 2029 to Jan 26, 2030, Saturn in Taurus, Sep 6, 2029 to Jan 19, 2030, and Uranus in Gemini, Sep 23, 2029 to Feb 20, 2030.
What should I do during this Mercury retrograde?
From December 22, 2029 at 05:51 UTC to January 11, 2030 at 05:45 UTC: Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign.
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