In 1997, Mercury has four retrograde periods: in Capricorn, Taurus, Aries, Virgo and Sagittarius. The year opens with a retrograde carried over from the year before; it ends on January 12. The last ends on December 27.
Retrograde periods in 1997
December 23, 1996 – January 12, 1997
Over
- Shadow begins
- Retrograde begins
- Turns direct
- Shadow ends
- Sign
- Capricorn
- Length
- 20 days
April 14 – May 8
Over
- Shadow begins
- Retrograde begins
- Turns direct
- Shadow ends
- Sign
- from Taurus into Aries
- Length
- 24 days
August 17 – September 9
Over
- Shadow begins
- Retrograde begins
- Turns direct
- Shadow ends
- Sign
- Virgo
- Length
- 23 days
December 7 – December 27
Over
- Shadow begins
- Retrograde begins
- Turns direct
- Shadow ends
- Sign
- from Capricorn into Sagittarius
- Length
- 20 days