Both stations in Gemini
Mercury retrograde
May 2028.
Mercury stations retrograde at 16°19′ Gemini on May 21, 2028 at 08:43 UTC and stations direct at 7°45′ Gemini on June 14, 2028 at 06:06 UTC. Pre-shadow begins May 6, 2028 at 18:40 UTC, the cazimi is June 2, 2028 at 02:46 UTC, at 12°06′ Gemini, and post-shadow ends June 29, 2028 at 08:58 UTC.
Dates below are UTC, to the minute.
Station dates
The five moments of the May 2028 Mercury cycle. Both stations are in Gemini. The retrograde lasts 24 days.
| Phase | UTC | Your time | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow starts | May 6, 2028 · 18:40 | UTC only | — |
| Station retrograde | May 21, 2028 · 08:43 | UTC only | 16°19′ Gemini |
| Cazimi (Mercury–Sun) | Jun 2, 2028 · 02:46 | UTC only | 12°06′ Gemini |
| Station direct | Jun 14, 2028 · 06:06 | UTC only | 7°45′ Gemini |
| Post-shadow ends | Jun 29, 2028 · 08:58 | 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 June 1, 2028 at 22:18 UTC to June 2, 2028 at 07:15 UTC. How these are timed.
Signs and degrees
Mercury retraces 8°34′ of the zodiac: it stations retrograde at 16°19′ Gemini and backs up to 7°45′ Gemini before it stations direct. The whole loop stays in Gemini. Mercury first reaches 7°45′ Gemini on May 6, 2028, 15 days before the station, and clears 16°19′ Gemini again on June 29, 2028, 15 days after it turns direct: 54 days on these degrees in all. The cazimi falls on day 13 of 24, at 12°06′ Gemini.
The last Mercury retrograde station in Gemini before this one was May 10, 2022 at 11:48 UTC, at 4°52′ Gemini. The next one is June 2, 2034 at 05:24 UTC, at 27°55′ Gemini. Since 1900, the closest earlier station to 16°19′ Gemini came 125 years before, on May 22, 1903 at 19:39 UTC, at 16°06′ Gemini, 0°13′ away.
What to do in each phase
| Phase | Dates | Traditional focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow | May 6, 2028 – May 21, 2028 | Finish launches, back up devices, confirm travel and contract details. |
| Retrograde | May 21, 2028 – Jun 14, 2028 | Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign. |
| Cazimi | Jun 2, 2028 · 02:46 | A short, clear window inside the retrograde: set one fresh intention. |
| Post-shadow | Jun 14, 2028 – Jun 29, 2028 | Relaunch what was paused and send the revised version. |
Compared with the previous cycle
| January 2028 | This cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Station retrograde | Jan 24, 2028 · 19°42′ Aquarius | May 21, 2028 · 16°19′ Gemini |
| Station direct | Feb 14, 2028 · 3°59′ Aquarius | Jun 14, 2028 · 7°45′ Gemini |
| Signs | Aquarius | Gemini |
| Length | 21 days | 24 days |
| Retrograde arc | 15°43′ | 8°34′ |
Mercury moves direct for 97 days between the two retrogrades. This one lasts 24 days, 3 days longer than the January 2028 cycle, and its retrograde station sits 116°37′ further along the zodiac than the previous one.
Other planets retrograde at the same time
Between May 21, 2028 at 08:43 UTC and June 14, 2028 at 06:06 UTC, 2 other planets are retrograde for at least part of the time:
Moon during this cycle
Principal moon phases between pre-shadow on May 6, 2028 and the end of post-shadow on June 29, 2028. The third column follows your clock.
| Phase | UTC | Your time |
|---|---|---|
 Full moon | May 8 · 19:48 | UTC only |
 Last quarter | May 16 · 10:42 | UTC only |
 New moon | May 24 · 08:15 | UTC only |
 First quarter | May 31 · 07:36 | UTC only |
| Full moon | Jun 7 · 06:08 | UTC only |
| Last quarter | Jun 15 · 04:27 | UTC only |
| New moon | Jun 22 · 18:26 | 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 May 2028?
Mercury stations retrograde at 16°19′ Gemini on May 21, 2028 at 08:43 UTC and stations direct at 7°45′ Gemini on June 14, 2028 at 06:06 UTC. Pre-shadow begins May 6, 2028 at 18:40 UTC, the cazimi is June 2, 2028 at 02:46 UTC, at 12°06′ Gemini, and post-shadow ends June 29, 2028 at 08:58 UTC.
When does the May 2028 Mercury retrograde end?
Mercury stations direct on June 14, 2028 at 06:06 UTC, at 7°45′ Gemini, and post-shadow ends June 29, 2028 at 08:58 UTC.
When is the Mercury cazimi in this retrograde?
The cazimi is June 2, 2028 at 02:46 UTC, at 12°06′ Gemini. Mercury is within 17′ of the Sun from June 1, 2028 at 22:18 UTC to June 2, 2028 at 07:15 UTC.
How long is this Mercury retrograde?
24 days from station to station in UTC calendar days, from May 21, 2028 at 08:43 UTC to June 14, 2028 at 06:06 UTC.
What sign is Mercury retrograde in, May 2028?
In Gemini: both stations fall in the same sign, at 16°19′ Gemini on May 21, 2028 at 08:43 UTC and at 7°45′ Gemini on June 14, 2028 at 06:06 UTC.
When is the shadow of the May 2028 Mercury retrograde?
Pre-shadow runs 15 days, from May 6, 2028 at 18:40 UTC to the retrograde station; post-shadow runs 15 days, from the direct station to June 29, 2028 at 08:58 UTC. With the shadow, the cycle spans 54 days.
How does this Mercury retrograde compare with the previous one?
The previous one, January 2028, ran from January 24, 2028 at 11:02 UTC to February 14, 2028 at 12:38 UTC and lasted 21 days; this one lasts 24 days. Mercury moves direct for 97 days in between.
When was Mercury last retrograde in Gemini?
The last Mercury retrograde station in Gemini before this one was May 10, 2022 at 11:48 UTC, at 4°52′ Gemini. The next one is June 2, 2034 at 05:24 UTC, at 27°55′ Gemini.
Which other planets are retrograde during the May 2028 Mercury retrograde?
Between May 21, 2028 at 08:43 UTC and June 14, 2028 at 06:06 UTC: Venus in Gemini, May 10, 2028 to Jun 22, 2028 and Pluto in Aquarius, May 9, 2028 to Oct 19, 2028.
What should I do during this Mercury retrograde?
From May 21, 2028 at 08:43 UTC to June 14, 2028 at 06:06 UTC: Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign.
All 2028 dates · All planets 2028 · All planets today · Every Mercury cazimi · App Store