Mercury in Retrograde, Beyond a Passing Punchline

It’s a little harsh to blame the smallest planet in our solar system as a catch-all for our problems every time Mercury looks like it’s moving backwards across our night sky. Mercury just exited retrograde motion this past Mother’s Day (14 May). But what does ‘Mercury in retrograde’ actually mean? Dr. Laura Driesen, postdoctoral researcher in radio astronomy at the University of Sydney, was on the line with Drive to break down the astronomy behind it all.