Station in Aquarius · direct in Capricorn
Mercury retrograde
January 2029.
Mercury stations retrograde at 3°38′ Aquarius on January 7, 2029 at 07:57 UTC and stations direct at 17°32′ Capricorn on January 27, 2029 at 18:40 UTC. Pre-shadow begins December 21, 2028 at 21:24 UTC, the cazimi is January 16, 2029 at 08:17 UTC, at 26°29′ Capricorn, and post-shadow ends February 16, 2029 at 16:52 UTC.
Dates below are UTC, to the minute.
Station dates
The five moments of the January 2029 Mercury cycle. Mercury stations retrograde in Aquarius and direct in Capricorn, so the cycle is named for both signs. The retrograde lasts 20 days.
| Phase | UTC | Your time | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow starts | Dec 21, 2028 · 21:24 | UTC only | — |
| Station retrograde | Jan 7, 2029 · 07:57 | UTC only | 3°38′ Aquarius |
| Cazimi (Mercury–Sun) | Jan 16, 2029 · 08:17 | UTC only | 26°29′ Capricorn |
| Station direct | Jan 27, 2029 · 18:40 | UTC only | 17°32′ Capricorn |
| Post-shadow ends | Feb 16, 2029 · 16:52 | 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 05:21 to 11:12 UTC on January 16, 2029. How these are timed.
Signs and degrees
Mercury retraces 16°06′ of the zodiac: it stations retrograde at 3°38′ Aquarius and backs up to 17°32′ Capricorn before it stations direct. On the way back it leaves Aquarius and returns to Capricorn, so this retrograde touches two signs. Mercury first reaches 17°32′ Capricorn on December 21, 2028, 17 days before the station, and clears 3°38′ Aquarius again on February 16, 2029, 20 days after it turns direct: 57 days on these degrees in all. The cazimi falls on day 10 of 20, at 26°29′ Capricorn.
The last Mercury retrograde station in Aquarius before this one was January 24, 2028 at 11:02 UTC, at 19°42′ Aquarius. The next one is February 2, 2034 at 11:22 UTC, at 29°07′ Aquarius. Since 1900, the closest earlier station to 3°38′ Aquarius came 79 years before, on January 8, 1950 at 16:54 UTC, at 4°07′ Aquarius, 0°29′ away.
What to do in each phase
| Phase | Dates | Traditional focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow | Dec 21, 2028 – Jan 7, 2029 | Finish launches, back up devices, confirm travel and contract details. |
| Retrograde | Jan 7, 2029 – Jan 27, 2029 | Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign. |
| Cazimi | Jan 16, 2029 · 08:17 | A short, clear window inside the retrograde: set one fresh intention. |
| Post-shadow | Jan 27, 2029 – Feb 16, 2029 | Relaunch what was paused and send the revised version. |
Compared with the previous cycle
| September 2028 | This cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Station retrograde | Sep 19, 2028 · 18°36′ Libra | Jan 7, 2029 · 3°38′ Aquarius |
| Station direct | Oct 11, 2028 · 3°29′ Libra | Jan 27, 2029 · 17°32′ Capricorn |
| Signs | Libra | Aquarius → Capricorn |
| Length | 22 days | 20 days |
| Retrograde arc | 15°07′ | 16°06′ |
Mercury moves direct for 88 days between the two retrogrades. This one lasts 20 days, 2 days shorter than the September 2028 cycle, and its retrograde station sits 105°02′ further along the zodiac than the previous one.
Other planets retrograde at the same time
Between January 7, 2029 at 07:57 UTC and January 27, 2029 at 18:40 UTC, one other planet is retrograde for at least part of the time:
- Uranus in Gemini, Sep 19, 2028 to Feb 16, 2029
Moon during this cycle
Principal moon phases between pre-shadow on December 21, 2028 and the end of post-shadow on February 16, 2029. The third column follows your clock.
| Phase | UTC | Your time |
|---|---|---|
 First quarter | Dec 23 · 21:44 | UTC only |
 Full moon | Dec 31 · 16:48 | UTC only |
 Last quarter | Jan 7 · 13:26 | UTC only |
 New moon | Jan 14 · 17:25 | UTC only |
| First quarter | Jan 22 · 19:23 | UTC only |
| Full moon | Jan 30 · 06:03 | UTC only |
| Last quarter | Feb 5 · 21:52 | UTC only |
| New moon | Feb 13 · 10:32 | 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 January 2029?
Mercury stations retrograde at 3°38′ Aquarius on January 7, 2029 at 07:57 UTC and stations direct at 17°32′ Capricorn on January 27, 2029 at 18:40 UTC. Pre-shadow begins December 21, 2028 at 21:24 UTC, the cazimi is January 16, 2029 at 08:17 UTC, at 26°29′ Capricorn, and post-shadow ends February 16, 2029 at 16:52 UTC.
When does the January 2029 Mercury retrograde end?
Mercury stations direct on January 27, 2029 at 18:40 UTC, at 17°32′ Capricorn, and post-shadow ends February 16, 2029 at 16:52 UTC.
When is the Mercury cazimi in this retrograde?
The cazimi is January 16, 2029 at 08:17 UTC, at 26°29′ Capricorn. Mercury is within 17′ of the Sun from 05:21 to 11:12 UTC on January 16, 2029.
How long is this Mercury retrograde?
20 days from station to station in UTC calendar days, from January 7, 2029 at 07:57 UTC to January 27, 2029 at 18:40 UTC.
What sign is Mercury retrograde in, January 2029?
Mercury stations retrograde at 3°38′ Aquarius on January 7, 2029 at 07:57 UTC and stations direct at 17°32′ Capricorn on January 27, 2029 at 18:40 UTC, so this retrograde covers Aquarius and Capricorn.
When is the shadow of the January 2029 Mercury retrograde?
Pre-shadow runs 17 days, from December 21, 2028 at 21:24 UTC to the retrograde station; post-shadow runs 20 days, from the direct station to February 16, 2029 at 16:52 UTC. With the shadow, the cycle spans 57 days.
How does this Mercury retrograde compare with the previous one?
The previous one, September 2028, ran from September 19, 2028 at 16:34 UTC to October 11, 2028 at 10:28 UTC and lasted 22 days; this one lasts 20 days. Mercury moves direct for 88 days in between.
When was Mercury last retrograde in Aquarius?
The last Mercury retrograde station in Aquarius before this one was January 24, 2028 at 11:02 UTC, at 19°42′ Aquarius. The next one is February 2, 2034 at 11:22 UTC, at 29°07′ Aquarius.
Which other planets are retrograde during the January 2029 Mercury retrograde?
Between January 7, 2029 at 07:57 UTC and January 27, 2029 at 18:40 UTC: Uranus in Gemini, Sep 19, 2028 to Feb 16, 2029.
What should I do during this Mercury retrograde?
From January 7, 2029 at 07:57 UTC to January 27, 2029 at 18:40 UTC: Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign.
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