Mercury stations retrograde on November 15, 1972 at 12° Sagittarius, and direct on December 5 at 26° Scorpio — 20 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.