Mercury stations retrograde on February 12, 2040 at 8° Pisces, and direct on March 5 at 23° Aquarius — 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.