Mercury is now in retrograde, an astronomical event occurring three to four times per year that astrologers claim affects technology and the way humans communicate. Astronomers can explain this phenomenon with science that humans did not possess hundreds of years ago.
Whether or not you think astrology is credible, the mercury retrograde is still a great opportunity to learn about astronomy or visit an observatory.
Mercury is closer to the sun than Earth is and can only be seen at twilight—just before dawn or after sundown. Mercury appears to be moving backward across the night sky during these times and will be doing so until Feb. 11. Like Venus, for example, Mercury is an inner planet and can’t be seen during the day. It is closer to the sun than Earth is—just as Jupiter is an outer planet because it is farther from the sun than Earth.
“You can see the retrogrades and the apparent backup motions of the outer planets; you can’t see them from the inner planets—but you can calculate when they occur. It just became one other thing [humans noticed] that the planets do and astrologers began to put meaning behind it,” said Stephen Reynolds, a physics professor at NC State. “Astrology fails every test of the scientific theory. It has no physical mechanism for operating.”
Hundreds of years ago, astronomers thought Earth was the center of the universe, but after Copernicus introduced the heliocentric system, astronomers were able to better understand and explain the movement of the celestial bodies in the night sky, according to Reynolds.
“It’s just [Earth] goes faster, so as we pass [outer planets] on the inside, they appear to be backing up,” Reynolds said. “You see the same thing when you’re in a car and you go around a turn on the inside lane, passing someone on the outside. When you watch them, they appear to back up with respect to the buildings behind them. That’s just the property of the relative motions.”
Although an interesting reason to look toward the sky, not everyone holds stock in the astrological aspects of Mercury retrograde.
“I don’t think that mercury retrograde has anything to do with how we communicate at all. I think, on a fundamental level, we all follow our own course of communication throughout our daily lives,” said Ethan Thompson, a sophomore studying communication. “I don’t think there is any other influencing factor other than ourselves and our environment. I don’t think astrology has any place in that.”
Even though the two sometimes get confused for each other, astronomy and astrology are two very different fields, and many people are skeptical about astrology.
“Though astronomy and astrology have both been around for many years, there is one big difference between them: Astronomy is the only one that is based in scientific fact. Though it has been tested time and time again, astrology has failed almost every scientific test and, at best, is closer to random guessing,” said Elise McDow, a junior studying agricultural and environmental technology. “Although it’s a cool astronomical event, I do not believe it affects us in any shape or form. Fine by me if you believe in astrology, just know that it’s more for fun and less for determining the outcome of your life.”
Whether you hold stock in the astrological side of it or just find the movement of planets fascinating, Mercury retrograde is a good reminder for everyone to take time and note the changes happening around us.
“I would just like people to get out there and start looking at the sky,” Reynolds said.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will partner with the Raleigh Astronomy Club on Saturday and Sunday for Astronomy Days 2015. Attendees have the opportunity to meet NASA astronaut Andrew Feustel and learn about Pluto and the outer planets through different exhibits and activities.
