Mercury stations retrograde on March 16, 1946 at 10° Aries, and direct on April 9 at 27° Pisces — 24 days. From the Earth, Mercury seems to back up against the stars as we overtake it, as a car passed on the highway seems to slide backward. Astrology holds it a time for crossed wires and delays. Computed from JPL's approximate orbits; the stations agree with an almanac's to within minutes.