Moving backward; reverting to an earlier and usually worse state; in astronomy, appearing to move opposite to the normal direction.
From Latin 'retrogradus' — 'retro' (backward) + 'gradus' (step). When Mercury is 'in retrograde,' it appears to move backward in the sky — an optical illusion that astrologers blame for everything.
Mercury isn't REALLY going backward — it just LOOKS like it from Earth! But somehow this optical illusion gets blamed for missed texts, broken relationships, and lost keys! Astronomy becomes astrology becomes memes! ðŸªðŸ“±ðŸ˜¤
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