Station in Capricorn · direct in Sagittarius
Mercury retrograde
December 2030.
Mercury stations retrograde at 1°52′ Capricorn on December 6, 2030 at 02:47 UTC and stations direct at 15°33′ Sagittarius on December 25, 2030 at 21:14 UTC. Pre-shadow begins November 17, 2030 at 23:57 UTC, the cazimi is December 15, 2030 at 19:14 UTC, at 23°51′ Sagittarius, and post-shadow ends January 13, 2031 at 14:46 UTC.
Dates below are UTC, to the minute.
Station dates
The five moments of the December 2030 Mercury cycle. Mercury stations retrograde in Capricorn and direct in Sagittarius, so the cycle is named for both signs. The retrograde lasts 19 days.
| Phase | UTC | Your time | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow starts | Nov 17, 2030 · 23:57 | UTC only | — |
| Station retrograde | Dec 6, 2030 · 02:47 | UTC only | 1°52′ Capricorn |
| Cazimi (Mercury–Sun) | Dec 15, 2030 · 19:14 | UTC only | 23°51′ Sagittarius |
| Station direct | Dec 25, 2030 · 21:14 | UTC only | 15°33′ Sagittarius |
| Post-shadow ends | Jan 13, 2031 · 14:46 | 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 16:24 to 22:04 UTC on December 15, 2030. How these are timed.
Signs and degrees
Mercury retraces 16°19′ of the zodiac: it stations retrograde at 1°52′ Capricorn and backs up to 15°33′ Sagittarius before it stations direct. On the way back it leaves Capricorn and returns to Sagittarius, so this retrograde touches two signs. Mercury first reaches 15°33′ Sagittarius on November 17, 2030, 19 days before the station, and clears 1°52′ Capricorn again on January 13, 2031, 19 days after it turns direct: 57 days on these degrees in all. The cazimi falls on day 10 of 19, at 23°51′ Sagittarius.
The last Mercury retrograde station in Capricorn before this one was December 22, 2029 at 05:51 UTC, at 17°42′ Capricorn. The next one is January 1, 2036 at 04:25 UTC, at 26°56′ Capricorn. Since 1900, the closest earlier station to 1°52′ Capricorn came 79 years before, on December 7, 1951 at 11:56 UTC, at 2°20′ Capricorn, 0°28′ away.
What to do in each phase
| Phase | Dates | Traditional focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow | Nov 17, 2030 – Dec 6, 2030 | Finish launches, back up devices, confirm travel and contract details. |
| Retrograde | Dec 6, 2030 – Dec 25, 2030 | Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign. |
| Cazimi | Dec 15, 2030 · 19:14 | A short, clear window inside the retrograde: set one fresh intention. |
| Post-shadow | Dec 25, 2030 – Jan 13, 2031 | Relaunch what was paused and send the revised version. |
Compared with the previous cycle
| August 2030 | This cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Station retrograde | Aug 16, 2030 · 14°30′ Virgo | Dec 6, 2030 · 1°52′ Capricorn |
| Station direct | Sep 8, 2030 · 1°06′ Virgo | Dec 25, 2030 · 15°33′ Sagittarius |
| Signs | Virgo | Capricorn → Sagittarius |
| Length | 23 days | 19 days |
| Retrograde arc | 13°24′ | 16°19′ |
Mercury moves direct for 89 days between the two retrogrades. This one lasts 19 days, 4 days shorter than the August 2030 cycle, and its retrograde station sits 107°22′ further along the zodiac than the previous one.
Other planets retrograde at the same time
Between December 6, 2030 at 02:47 UTC and December 25, 2030 at 21:14 UTC, 3 other planets are retrograde for at least part of the time:
- Saturn in Gemini, Sep 20, 2030 to Feb 2, 2031
- Uranus in Gemini, Sep 28, 2030 to Feb 25, 2031
- Neptune in Aries, Jul 16, 2030 to Dec 21, 2030
Moon during this cycle
Principal moon phases between pre-shadow on November 17, 2030 and the end of post-shadow on January 13, 2031. The third column follows your clock.
| Phase | UTC | Your time |
|---|---|---|
 Last quarter | Nov 18 · 08:32 | UTC only |
 New moon | Nov 25 · 06:45 | UTC only |
 First quarter | Dec 1 · 22:56 | UTC only |
 Full moon | Dec 9 · 22:40 | UTC only |
| Last quarter | Dec 18 · 00:01 | UTC only |
| New moon | Dec 24 · 17:32 | UTC only |
| First quarter | Dec 31 · 13:36 | UTC only |
| Full moon | Jan 8 · 18:25 | 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 2030?
Mercury stations retrograde at 1°52′ Capricorn on December 6, 2030 at 02:47 UTC and stations direct at 15°33′ Sagittarius on December 25, 2030 at 21:14 UTC. Pre-shadow begins November 17, 2030 at 23:57 UTC, the cazimi is December 15, 2030 at 19:14 UTC, at 23°51′ Sagittarius, and post-shadow ends January 13, 2031 at 14:46 UTC.
When does the December 2030 Mercury retrograde end?
Mercury stations direct on December 25, 2030 at 21:14 UTC, at 15°33′ Sagittarius, and post-shadow ends January 13, 2031 at 14:46 UTC.
When is the Mercury cazimi in this retrograde?
The cazimi is December 15, 2030 at 19:14 UTC, at 23°51′ Sagittarius. Mercury is within 17′ of the Sun from 16:24 to 22:04 UTC on December 15, 2030.
How long is this Mercury retrograde?
19 days from station to station in UTC calendar days, from December 6, 2030 at 02:47 UTC to December 25, 2030 at 21:14 UTC.
What sign is Mercury retrograde in, December 2030?
Mercury stations retrograde at 1°52′ Capricorn on December 6, 2030 at 02:47 UTC and stations direct at 15°33′ Sagittarius on December 25, 2030 at 21:14 UTC, so this retrograde covers Capricorn and Sagittarius.
When is the shadow of the December 2030 Mercury retrograde?
Pre-shadow runs 19 days, from November 17, 2030 at 23:57 UTC to the retrograde station; post-shadow runs 19 days, from the direct station to January 13, 2031 at 14:46 UTC. With the shadow, the cycle spans 57 days.
How does this Mercury retrograde compare with the previous one?
The previous one, August 2030, ran from August 16, 2030 at 01:20 UTC to September 8, 2030 at 09:28 UTC and lasted 23 days; this one lasts 19 days. Mercury moves direct for 89 days in between.
When was Mercury last retrograde in Capricorn?
The last Mercury retrograde station in Capricorn before this one was December 22, 2029 at 05:51 UTC, at 17°42′ Capricorn. The next one is January 1, 2036 at 04:25 UTC, at 26°56′ Capricorn.
Which other planets are retrograde during the December 2030 Mercury retrograde?
Between December 6, 2030 at 02:47 UTC and December 25, 2030 at 21:14 UTC: Saturn in Gemini, Sep 20, 2030 to Feb 2, 2031, Uranus in Gemini, Sep 28, 2030 to Feb 25, 2031, and Neptune in Aries, Jul 16, 2030 to Dec 21, 2030.
What should I do during this Mercury retrograde?
From December 6, 2030 at 02:47 UTC to December 25, 2030 at 21:14 UTC: Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign.
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