Mercury stations retrograde on November 14, 2005 at 10° Sagittarius, and direct on December 4 at 24° Scorpio — 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.