Mercury stations retrograde on June 26, 2013 at 23° Cancer, and direct on July 20 at 13° Cancer — 24 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.