Mercury stations retrograde on July 9, 1986 at 6° Leo, and direct on August 3 at 25° Cancer — 25 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.