Mercury stations retrograde on December 17, 2003 at 12° Capricorn, and direct on January 6 at 26° 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.