It’s funny how social media can make our relationship more gamified. Our social media relationships have changed dramatically over the years. We started with “friends,” and then moved on to “top eight” statuses. Now, an entire galaxy is in our pocket. It’s not just you if you’ve noticed that your best friend has a few planetary-themed emojis in their profile. The first time I noticed a small badge in gold on the profile of my cousin, I was convinced she’d unlocked developer mode. It turns out that she texts me far more than I knew.
Snapchat Plus’s Snapchat Solar System is an exciting feature. The feature allows you to visualize your friends by visualizing them as if they were planets around you. The digital hierarchy is built on affection, interactions, and commitment to streaks. If you’re trying to determine why Mercury represents your crush, or Neptune represents your childhood pal, then this guide is for you.
We’ll explore the Snapchat solar system, including what each planet means, how they are arranged, and navigational tips to avoid getting lost.
This concept may seem simple, but it is surprisingly addictive. You are given a planet according to how often you communicate with your eight closest friends.
What is Snapchat Solar System?
Before we start naming planets, it is essential first to understand how the celestial system works. Snapchat Plus members can access this exclusive feature. This feature isn’t accessible to everyone. Free users may see the “Best Friends badge” but will not be able to view the planets in orbit around other people unless they pay for premium services.
The algorithm is very logical and sometimes brutal. Your solar system is the Sun. Mercury, the nearest planet to the Sun, is Mercury, the friend with whom you have the most interaction through Snaps, calls, or chats. Venus becomes the friend with whom you have the most interaction, then Neptune. The data you share with others is directly reflected in this chart.
It’s a feature I find fascinating, because it allows us to quantify friendship in ways we never do in reality. Snap has a different way of expressing friendship. We may say “Oh Sarah’s my best friend”, but it says “Actually… based upon the fact that Mike received 400 videos this week and Sarah only 12, Mike is Mercury while Sarah is Mars.” The ambiguity that is associated with social circles has been replaced by cold, complex orbital data. Remember that the order of this list is constantly changing based on your activity in the past week.
It is essential to know the sequence if you’re trying to decipher your hierarchy of online friendships.
The Complete Best Friends Snap Planets Order
The order of the planets on Snapchat mirrors the actual order of the planets in our real solar system. If you paid attention in fourth-grade science class, this will be a breeze. If not, don’t worry–I’ve had to Google the order of Uranus and Neptune more times than I care to admit. The sequence starts from the planet closest to the Sun and moves outward.
The definitive order that you must know is:
- Mercury (Closest Best Friend)
- Venus (2nd Closest)
- Earth (3rd Closest)
- Mars (4th Closest)
- Jupiter (5th Closest)
- Saturn (6th Closest)
- Uranus (7th Closest)
- Neptune (8th Closest)
Each planet is a particular slot in your list of Best Friends. Mercury represents the absolute first contact for that person. Neptune signifies that you have made it to the top 8, which is still a great honour, but you are just barely on the border of their solar systems. The visual representation of your position is fun and engaging, although I’ve heard it can cause some drama for people who realise that they are not as far from the Sun as they believed.
Break down the visuals because a small cartoon planet on a screen can sometimes be confusing.
Visual Guide for Identifying the Planets
Snapchat created Bitmoji-style art for every planet; not only did they label them. Understanding your relationship status is as simple as recognizing the planets. One time, I stared at a planet for ten minutes to try and figure out whether I was Mars or a really dusty Jupiter. This will save you the trouble of trying to figure out what planets look like.
| Planet | Rank | Visual Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | #1 | A red/orange planet with red hearts floating around it. |
| Venus | #2 | A beige/yellowish planet with yellow, pink, and blue hearts. |
| Earth | #3 | Looks like Earth (blue/green) with red hearts and a moon. |
| Mars | #4 | A red planet with stars and purple/blue hearts. |
| Jupiter | #5 | An orange planet with dark bands, no hearts, just stars. |
| Saturn | #6 | An orange/yellow planet with a ring around it. |
| Uranus | #7 | A green planet with no hearts, just stars. |
| Neptune | #8 | A dark blue planet, desolate with no hearts. |
There is a pattern here. You’ll notice that the planets closest to us (Mercury and Venus) all have circles of hearts around them. These indicate “love” and high affection. The hearts vanish once you reach Jupiter. Snapchat’s subtle choice of design implies that the top four spots are for the “core” group and that the other four represent close friends, but without the intensity.
It is not surprising that the first planet represents the highest digital bond in our solar system.
Mercury: the “Ride or Die’ Position
Mercury, in the 21st century, is like having the second half of the “Best Friends Forever Heart Necklace”. Statistically, no other user receives as much attention from that particular user. The #1 best friend is you. It is easy to recognize the visual clue: A solid red heart surrounded by a red planet.
I have found that maintaining Mercury status can be a real challenge. This requires regular maintenance. To keep your streak going, you can’t snap just once every day. You have to chat actively, send videos, and answer. Do not be surprised if your position drops to Venus, or worse yet, Earth, if you are on vacation for three consecutive days and you don’t have service. It was a difficult week for me at work, and my roommate started to plan a party with a friend. I ended up losing the Mercury slot. The algorithm detected the sudden change immediately.
It usually means that you have a long-term relationship and share all of your thoughts, including the mundane breakfast pics, the random rants or the late-night thoughts. Mercury is the Snapchat icon for someone.
Second place usually goes to a best friend, a partner or a significant other.
Venus: The Second in Command
Venus, also known as the Second Best Friend (or Venus), is located two planets away from the Sun. The beige and the multicoloured heart patterns make it stand out visually. Venus may be “top dog,” but Mercury comes close. Mercury and Venus have a very similar interaction rate.
It’s not uncommon to see a partner occupying Venus while their best friend occupies Mercury. The position is highly regarded. Venus will be in an inner circle. If Mercury is unavailable, you’re likely to be the first person that they contact. You are in the highest tier and can relax, knowing that you will be contacted regularly.
Also, friendship dynamics can fluctuate. You may move from Mercury to Venus with the person you’re dating, depending on which week it is. Mercury is the best place to be when you plan a joint trip. When things calm down, go back to Venus. The digital world is an ever-changing, fluid communication.
Third spot, Earth. It represents friendship that is stable and grounded.
Earth: The Stable Third Wheel
Earth represents the #3 Best Friend. This icon can be easily identified because it resembles our own planet, with its blue oceans and green landmasses. A little red heart and the moon complete the picture. If you’re on Earth, then this is a person who values your presence in their life. Mercury is not your obsession, and neither are you Venus’ sidekick. But both are important.
Earth’s position is what I call the “low maintenance high reward” level of friendship. You don’t have to communicate every hour, every day with these friends. But you must still be in touch enough for them to remain at the top of the list. You’re in a good place. The app considers you a friend and likely has a Snap streak that goes back a few years.
Looking at my circles, it’s interesting that siblings and longtime friends often fill Earths. The algorithm is happy with this connection because it doesn’t need the excitement of a brand new friendship, but still has a long history.
The Red Planet marks the “inner” circle.
Mars: the final “heart” planet
Mars is the #4 Best Friend. Mercury is distinguished by its red heart. Mars appears to be a red-colored planet. Mars, the final planet to have hearts as part of its design, is a key distinction.
It is essential to note the demarcation lines. Mars signifies that you’re the last person to be “loved”, according to the visual language of the algorithm. It means that you’re very close and probably someone with whom they communicate almost every day. However, the volume of your conversations may not be as high as the other top three. This is where the besties’ inner circle meets the larger group of friends.
Mars has been a favourite spot of mine for my work buddies or colleagues–people I interact with a lot in specific contexts, but perhaps not all the time. If you want to be competitive, being ranked fourth might make you send in a couple of extra funny filters.
As we cross the belt of asteroids, the first planet is the one that stands out.
Jupiter: The Gateway to the Outer Circle
Jupiter is the #5 Best Friend. This giant orange planet only has stars, no hearts. It is important to note that the absence of hearts represents a subtle change in psychological perception. The lack of hearts suggests a close friendship, perhaps lacking the “intimacy” and sheer volume that the inner planets have.
Jupiter means you’re a friend but also a member of an extended team. There’s no doubt that you are a Jupiter, but perhaps your daily exchanges consist of only one or two Snaps and not a full conversationJupitereisare not bad! It is quite an accomplishment for users to even make it into the top 8!
Jupiter was a character I played for a long-lost friend. The only thing we did was keep a “good morning” sequence going. The consistency was just as important to me as the volume. It showed me that even low-effort interaction with consistency can keep you in your solar system and orbiting as a stable gas giant.
Sixth in line is the planet renowned for its rings.
Saturn: The Ringed Companion
Saturn is the #6 Best Friend, and can be recognised by its rings in orange or yellow. It is decorated with stars like Jupiter but without any hearts. This is the point where we look at the friends in your life who you see every day but don’t really talk to.
Saturn friends tend to be the people you see on the weekends and occasionally share memes. Mercury will be the go-to person for any crisis. But you definitely have a place in their lives. You can relax in a place that is safe and calm. Saturn has no performance pressure. It’s okay to skip the day and still stay in your solar system.
Snapchat’s algorithm has a tendency to drop messages quickly. There could be thousands of differences in the message counts between #1 (Saturn) and #2 (Uranus). But there might only be several hundred between #6 (Saturn) and #7. The distances between the outer planets are very narrow.
We find ourselves at the very edge of our system. This green planet has been the target of many immature jokes, but it is still a good spot.
Uranus & Neptune, The Outer Limits
Finally, we have Uranus (#7 Best Friend) and Neptune (#8 Best Friend). Uranus is a green planet with no hearts, and Neptune is a blue, desolate planet, also heartless.
I’m sorry, but if you are Uranus and Neptune, you have a skinny line of survival, my friend. Just barely, you are among the eight best. The danger zone is here. A slow week could knock you out of the system. The spots that are available often change. It could be your coworker one week, then your cousin the next, and someone else you’ve met at a social event the following.
Neptune is like being the kid who was last picked for kickball, but gets to play. Your team was selected! However, you’re playing on the wrong field. Do not let this discourage you. Statistics show that being among the top 8% is significant, especially when you consider the fact that the average person has hundreds or dozens of friends. This means that you’re on the radar of your friends, even if they are not at their centre.
It remains to be seen how you can use this data in your favour.
Navigating the Politics of Snapchat Plus
Understanding the Best Friends Snap Planets Order is one thing; navigating the social implications is another. This feature was designed for fun, but human emotions are complex. I have seen genuine arguments start because a boyfriend was “Earth” instead of “Mercury.”
Don’t Obsess Over the Orbit
The most important advice I can give is not to take it too seriously. The algorithm is just math. It counts sent messages, saved chats, and other interactions. It doesn’t measure love, loyalty, or how much someone cares about you. My mom is my favourite person in the world, but she isn’t even in my Snapchat solar system because we call on the phone. Don’t conflate data points with real-world connections.
Using It for Friendship Maintenance
On the flip side, you can use the planets as a “relationship health check.” If your best friend suddenly drops from Venus to Saturn, it might be a sign you two haven’t talked in a while. Use it as a prompt to reach out. “Hey, I noticed we are drifting into the outer rim, let’s grab coffee.” It can be a valuable tool for maintaining connections in a busy world.
Privacy Considerations
Remember, only Snapchat Plus subscribers can see this detailed solar system view. If you have Plus and your friend doesn’t, you have access to information they don’t. Be mindful of that. Telling someone “You’re only my Uranus” might not land well if they think you are closer than that.
The Snapchat Solar System is a quirky, colourful way to visualise our social lives. It turns the abstract concept of “closeness” into a concrete, ordered list. Whether you are aiming for Mercury or happy floating around as Saturn, understanding the order helps you decode the digital signals your friends are sending. So next time you see that golden badge, you’ll know exactly where you fit in their cosmic neighbourhood. Keep snapping, and may your orbit always be stable!
Read More: The Complete Guide to Instagram Story Viewers: Everything You Need to Know
Conclusion
The Best Friends Snap Planets Order, in the end, is more than a simple list. It’s an innovative and playful way to make our digital interactions tangible and memorable. Snapchat turns routine messages into meaningful connections by mapping friends onto an established cosmic system. The fun feature helps to keep tabs on your close relationships, but it also adds a new level of curiosity and excitement to social interactions. It’s important to remember that you should appreciate your closest friends as well as those who are orbiting further out. Enjoy the ride, enjoy your solar system, and each snap will strengthen your bonds.
