Mercury retrograde makes 9 November return

The phenomenon, known as Mercury retrograde, happens three or four times a year when Earth's faster orbit overtakes Mercury's, creating the illusion that our solar system's smallest planet is moving backwards.

Astronomers are keen to stress that nothing changes in Mercury's motion or influence; and it is an optical illusion, not a cosmic reversal of orbit that would influence our lives.

The science

Mercury orbits the Sun every 88 days, while Earth completes its orbit in 365. As Earth moves faster along the inner track, it periodically overtakes Mercury. During these intervals, our viewing angle changes in such a way that Mercury seems to move westward, against the normal eastward drift of the planets.

Astronomers describe this apparent reversal as retrograde motion. It is a well-understood optical effect caused by relative orbital speeds and positions, similar to the way a slower car seems to move backwards when overtaken on a motorway.

Despite a rather simple explanation of what a planet retrograde is, astrological belief in Mercury's influence to disrupt our lives remains widespread. The idea that Mercury governs communication and transport has taken firm root in popular culture, where any inconvenience can be attributed to its retrograde period.

Confirmation bias

Pyschologists point to the human tendency to notice problems that fit a narrative, while forgetting there is not connection – correlation is not causation. Therefore, Mercury retrogrades, in a psychological sense, likely functions less as a harbinger of chaos and more as a lens through which people interpret common disruptions.

Whether it is real or confirmation bias, a good number of us will be eyeing the calendar with trepidation as Mercury’s 9 November retrograde approaches.

Do you believe in the influence of Mercury retrograde? Drop us a comment below.