Mercury stations retrograde on December 7, 1997 at 3° Capricorn, and direct on December 27 at 17° 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.