Snapchat Planets Order & Meaning (2026): All 8 Explained
Updated: Oct 18
If you've opened a friend's Snapchat profile and discovered a mysterious planet, you might be wondering what it says about your friendship.
Snapchat Planets, officially called the Friend Solar System, is a Snapchat+ feature that turns friendship rankings into a miniature solar system.
But there's an important detail many people misunderstand: the planet you see represents your position in your friend's Best Friends list, not necessarily their position in yours.
In this guide, we'll explain every Snapchat planet, what the colors mean, how to check your ranking, why planets sometimes change, and how to fix common problems.
What Are Snapchat Planets?
Snapchat Planets are part of the Friend Solar System, an exclusive Snapchat+ feature that represents friendship rankings using the eight planets in our solar system.
The concept is simple:
The Sun represents the person whose Best Friends list you're viewing.
Each planet represents a different position among that person's eight closest Snapchat friends.
Mercury represents the first position.
Neptune represents the eighth position.
Snapchat determines Best Friends based on the people you Snap and Chat with most frequently.
For example, imagine you regularly exchange Snaps with someone named Alex. If you appear as Mercury in Alex's Friend Solar System, you're ranked first among Alex's Best Friends.
If you appear as Earth, you're ranked third.
Important: Snapchat Planets reflect activity on the platform. They aren't a measurement of real-life friendship, romantic interest, or how much someone cares about you.
Snapchat Planets Order and Meaning: Complete Ranking
The Snapchat Solar System follows the same order as the planets in our real solar system, starting with Mercury and ending with Neptune.
Order | Snapchat Planet | Friendship Ranking | Meaning |
1 | Mercury | #1 Best Friend | You rank first in their Best Friends list |
2 | Venus | #2 Best Friend | You rank second |
3 | Earth | #3 Best Friend | You rank third |
4 | Mars | #4 Best Friend | You rank fourth |
5 | Jupiter | #5 Best Friend | You rank fifth |
6 | Saturn | #6 Best Friend | You rank sixth |
7 | Uranus | #7 Best Friend | You rank seventh |
8 | Neptune | #8 Best Friend | You rank eighth |
Remember: A planet indicates a relative ranking, not an exact number of messages, Snaps, or days you've been friends.
What Does Each Snapchat Planet Mean?
Each Snapchat planet has its own visual appearance and represents a specific position in a friend's Best Friends ranking.
Here's how to identify all eight.
1. Mercury — Your #1 Best Friend
Ranking: First
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, making it the highest position in Snapchat's Friend Solar System.
If you're Mercury in someone's Snapchat Solar System, you're their number-one Best Friend according to Snapchat's ranking.
How Mercury looks:
A reddish planet
Several red hearts surrounding it
Decorative stars and a friendship-themed design
What Mercury means: You occupy the top position in that person's Best Friends list.
For example, if Sarah checks your Friendship Profile and sees Mercury, that means Sarah ranks first in your Best Friends list.
Being Mercury doesn't automatically mean you're someone's closest friend in real life. It reflects your position in their Snapchat activity ranking.
2. Venus — Your #2 Best Friend
Ranking: Second
Venus represents the second position in someone's Snapchat Best Friends list.
How Venus looks:
A light brown or yellowish planet
Colorful hearts, including pink and yellow tones
Decorative elements surrounding the planet
What Venus means: You're ranked second among that person's Best Friends.
Venus is still a high position. It simply means another friend currently occupies the Mercury ranking.
3. Earth — Your #3 Best Friend
Ranking: Third
Earth represents the third position in the Snapchat Friend Solar System.
How Earth looks:
A blue-and-green planet resembling Earth
A small moon
Red hearts and stars
What Earth means: You're the third-ranked person in your friend's Snapchat Best Friends list.
If someone shows up as Earth in your Solar System, they're among your eight most frequently contacted Snapchat friends, occupying the third position.
4. Mars — Your #4 Best Friend
Ranking: Fourth
Mars represents the fourth position in Snapchat's friendship ranking.
How Mars looks:
A red or reddish-orange planet
Colorful hearts, often purple and blue
Small stars around the planet
What Mars means: You're ranked fourth in the person's Best Friends list.
Being Mars doesn't indicate a negative friendship. It simply identifies your position relative to other friends based on Snapchat activity.
5. Jupiter — Your #5 Best Friend
Ranking: Fifth
Jupiter represents the fifth position in the Snapchat Solar System.
How Jupiter looks:
A large orange or reddish planet
Darker horizontal bands
Stars surrounding the planet
What Jupiter means: You're the fifth-ranked friend in that person's Best Friends list.
Jupiter's larger appearance doesn't mean the friendship is stronger than Mercury or Venus. The planet's ranking is determined by its position in the solar system, not its visual size.
6. Saturn — Your #6 Best Friend
Ranking: Sixth
Saturn represents the sixth position among someone's Snapchat Best Friends.
How Saturn looks:
A yellowish-orange planet
A distinctive ring around it
Small decorative stars
What Saturn means: You're ranked sixth in your friend's Best Friends list.
Saturn is one of the easiest Snapchat planets to recognize because of its prominent ring.
7. Uranus — Your #7 Best Friend
Ranking: Seventh
Uranus represents the seventh position in the Snapchat Friend Solar System.
How Uranus looks:
A green planet
Small decorative stars
A simpler appearance without the hearts seen around some earlier planets
What Uranus means: You're the seventh-ranked friend in that person's Best Friends list.
This doesn't necessarily mean you rarely communicate. The ranking is relative to that person's other Snapchat friends.
8. Neptune — Your #8 Best Friend
Ranking: Eighth
Neptune is the eighth and final planet in Snapchat's Friend Solar System.
How Neptune looks:
A blue planet
Small stars
A relatively simple design
What Neptune means: You're ranked eighth among that person's Best Friends.
Does Neptune mean you're a bad friend?
Absolutely not.
Neptune simply means you're in the eighth position. You're still represented within the person's top eight Snapchat Best Friends.
How Does the Snapchat Friend Solar System Work?
The Snapchat Friend Solar System uses planets to display your position in another person's Best Friends ranking.
Here's an example.
Imagine Alex has eight Best Friends on Snapchat:
Friend | Planet | Position |
Emma | Mercury | 1st |
Noah | Venus | 2nd |
Olivia | Earth | 3rd |
Liam | Mars | 4th |
Ava | Jupiter | 5th |
Sophia | Saturn | 6th |
James | Uranus | 7th |
Mia | Neptune | 8th |
If Mia checks her position in Alex's Friend Solar System, she'll see Neptune.
If Emma checks, she'll see Mercury.
The planets indicate each person's position in Alex's Best Friends ranking.
How Does Snapchat Decide the Rankings?
Snapchat explains that Best Friends are the people you Snap and Chat with most.
Your ranking can therefore change as your communication patterns change.
However, Snapchat doesn't publicly provide an exact formula showing how every Snap, message, or other interaction is weighted.
Be cautious of websites claiming that a certain number of messages guarantees Mercury or that every planet corresponds to a specific interaction percentage. Those aren't official Snapchat rules.
How to See Your Snapchat Planet
To check which planet you are in someone's Friend Solar System, you'll need access to the Snapchat+ feature.
Follow these steps:
Open Snapchat on your phone.
Make sure you have an active Snapchat+ subscription.
Visit your Snapchat+ feature management settings.
Turn on Solar System if it isn't already enabled.
Open the Friendship Profile of the person you want to check.
Look for a gold-ringed Best Friends badge.
Tap the badge to reveal your planet.
The planet shown indicates your position in that friend's Best Friends list.
Example: If you see Venus, you're ranked second in their Solar System.
What Does the Gold Ring Mean?
The gold ring identifies the Snapchat+ friendship badge used to access the Friend Solar System.
A Best Friends badge indicates a Best Friends relationship within the feature.
Tapping the available badge reveals your planet when the feature is active and your friendship is eligible.
How to Turn On Snapchat Planets
Snapchat's Friend Solar System is turned off by default for first-time Snapchat+ subscribers.
To enable it:
Open Snapchat.
Go to your profile.
Open your Snapchat+ feature management page.
Find the Solar System option.
Toggle the feature on.
You can return to the same settings area to disable it.
If you don't see the option, check whether your Snapchat+ subscription is active and whether the app is updated.
Why Can't I See Snapchat Planets?
If Snapchat Planets aren't appearing, several explanations are possible.
1. You Don't Have Snapchat+
Friend Solar System is a Snapchat+ feature.
Without the required subscription, you won't have access to its planet-ranking display.
2. Solar System Is Turned Off
First-time Snapchat+ subscribers have Solar System disabled by default.
Check your Snapchat+ feature settings and enable it.
3. You're Not in That Friend's Top Eight
The Friend Solar System represents positions within a person's Best Friends ranking.
If you're outside the relevant Best Friends group, you may not have a planet position to view.
4. Your Snapchat App Needs Updating
An outdated app may prevent you from accessing certain features or seeing the expected interface.
Check your device's app store for updates.
5. There's a Temporary App Issue
If everything appears correctly configured but the feature still doesn't work, try closing and reopening Snapchat.
You can also consult Snapchat Support for troubleshooting guidance.
Can Your Snapchat Planet Change?
Yes. Your Snapchat planet can change when your position in someone's Best Friends list changes.
For example, imagine you're currently Mars, representing fourth place.
If your relative Snapchat activity increases compared with the person's other friends, your ranking could move higher.
You might eventually appear as Earth, Venus, or Mercury.
The reverse can also happen.
If other friends become more active, your position may move lower.
There's no officially published timetable for when Snapchat recalculates planet positions.
A planet changing isn't proof that someone is ignoring you, upset with you, or deliberately prioritizing another person.
Snapchat Planets vs. Snapchat Best Friends Emojis
Snapchat Planets and Best Friends emojis are related to friendships, but they're different features.
Feature | Snapchat Planets | Best Friends Emojis |
Main purpose | Shows a position in a friend's top-eight ranking | Indicates particular friendship statuses |
Appearance | Mercury through Neptune | Hearts, smiley faces, and other emojis |
Snapchat+ required | Yes | Not generally required for standard friendship emojis |
Ranking information | Shows a specific position from 1 to 8 | Does not provide the same eight-planet ranking |
Where to find it | Friendship Profile badge | Friendship indicators in Snapchat |
For example, a yellow heart friendship emoji and a Mercury planet aren't interchangeable.
One is a friendship-status indicator, while the other represents a numbered position in the Friend Solar System.
Can You See Someone Else's Entire Snapchat Solar System?
No. The Friend Solar System isn't a public directory of someone's eight closest friends.
It lets an eligible Snapchat+ subscriber view their own position in a friend's ranking.
If you see Earth on someone's profile, you can understand that you're third in their Best Friends list.
However, the feature doesn't automatically reveal the identities of the people occupying Mercury, Venus, or the remaining positions.
This is an important privacy distinction.
Does Snapchat Planet Order Mean Someone Likes You?
Not necessarily.
Snapchat Planets are based on platform interaction rankings, not romantic feelings.
Mercury can indicate that you're someone's most frequently contacted Snapchat friend, but it doesn't establish that they have romantic interest in you.
Similarly, Neptune doesn't mean someone dislikes you.
Snapchat rankings are best understood as an activity-based feature rather than a relationship test.
Snapchat Planets: Common Myths Explained
Myth 1: Mercury Means Someone Loves You
Reality: Mercury means you occupy the first position in their Best Friends ranking. It doesn't prove romantic interest.
Myth 2: Neptune Means Someone Doesn't Care About You
Reality: Neptune represents the eighth position. It's not a judgment about your friendship.
Myth 3: Each Planet Has a Fixed Message Requirement
Reality: Snapchat hasn't published an exact number of messages or Snaps required for each planet.
Myth 4: Snapchat Planets Show Everyone's Best Friends
Reality: The feature shows your own position in another person's ranking, not their entire private Best Friends list.
Myth 5: The Biggest Planet Represents the Best Friendship
Reality: Planet size doesn't determine ranking. The order is always Mercury through Neptune.
Frequently Asked Questions About Snapchat Planets
What is the correct Snapchat Planets order?
The order is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These represent positions one through eight in a Snapchat Best Friends ranking.
What does Mercury mean on Snapchat?
Mercury means you're ranked first in someone's Snapchat Best Friends list.
What does Venus mean on Snapchat?
Venus means you're ranked second in the person's Best Friends list.
What does Earth mean on Snapchat?
Earth represents third place in the Friend Solar System.
What does Mars mean on Snapchat?
Mars represents the fourth position in someone's Best Friends ranking.
What does Jupiter mean on Snapchat?
Jupiter represents the fifth position.
What does Saturn mean on Snapchat?
Saturn represents the sixth position.
What does Uranus mean on Snapchat?
Uranus represents the seventh position.
What does Neptune mean on Snapchat?
Neptune represents the eighth position among someone's Snapchat Best Friends.
Is Mercury or Venus better on Snapchat?
Mercury represents a higher ranking than Venus. Mercury is first, while Venus is second. Neither planet determines the quality of a real-life friendship.
Can you have Snapchat Planets without Snapchat+?
The Friend Solar System planet display is a Snapchat+ feature. You'll need the required subscription to access it.
Can someone see their planet in my Solar System?
An eligible Snapchat+ subscriber may be able to view their position in your Best Friends ranking through your Friendship Profile badge. They cannot use the feature to see your entire Best Friends list.
Are Snapchat Planets the same for both friends?
Not necessarily. You might be Mercury in someone's Solar System while they're Mars in yours. Each person's ranking depends on their own Best Friends list.
How often do Snapchat Planets update?
Snapchat hasn't publicly specified an exact update interval. Rankings can change as Best Friends positions change.
Why did my Snapchat planet disappear?
Possible reasons include disabled Solar System settings, subscription issues, changes to the relevant Best Friends ranking, or temporary app problems.
Can you manually choose your Snapchat planet?
The standard Friend Solar System doesn't provide a manual planet-selection control. Planet positions reflect the relevant Best Friends ranking.
Is the Snapchat Solar System private?
The feature doesn't publicly display a person's complete Best Friends list. Eligible subscribers can see their own position through the relevant Friendship Profile.
Final Thoughts: What Snapchat Planets Really Tell You
Snapchat Planets provide a creative way to understand your position in someone's Snapchat Best Friends ranking.
The most important thing to remember is the order:
Mercury → Venus → Earth → Mars → Jupiter → Saturn → Uranus → Neptune
Mercury represents first place, while Neptune represents eighth.
If you're curious about your position in a friend's Solar System, Snapchat+ lets you check through the friendship badge when the feature is enabled and available.
Just remember that Snapchat activity and real-life relationships aren't the same thing. A planet is a ranking within an app, not a complete picture of your friendship.
Official reference: Snapchat Support — How Do Friend Solar Systems Work?
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