Mercury stations retrograde on November 21, 1998 at 17° Sagittarius, and direct on December 11 at 1° 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.