Mercury stations retrograde on October 12, 2007 at 9° Scorpio, and direct on November 1 at 23° Libra — 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.