Mercury stations retrograde on July 2, 2039 at 29° Cancer, and direct on July 27 at 19° Cancer — 25 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.