Mercury stations retrograde on March 20, 2005 at 14° Aries, and direct on April 12 at 1° Aries — 23 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.