Mercury stations retrograde on February 23, 2013 at 19° Pisces, and direct on March 17 at 5° Pisces — 22 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.