Mercury stations retrograde on December 4, 1984 at 0° Capricorn, and direct on December 24 at 14° Sagittarius — 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.