Hey everyone, Martin here! If you’ve spent any time on Snapchat recently, you’ve probably noticed those colorful little orbs floating around your friends’ profiles. I remember the first time I saw one—I was looking at my best friend Sarah’s profile and saw this tiny red planet with hearts. I genuinely thought it was some new space-themed filter she’d unlocked.
Then I saw a different one on my brother’s profile, and another on my coworker’s. Naturally, like any self-respecting tech geek, I headed straight to the Snapchat Planets Reddit threads to figure out what was going on. It turns out, I wasn’t just looking at digital stickers; I was looking at a high-stakes map of my social life.
If you’ve ever wondered why you’re an “Earth” to one person but a “Neptune” to another, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down the galaxy that is the Snapchat Friend Solar System.
My Personal Experience with the Snapchat Solar System
I’ll be honest: when I first subscribed to Snapchat+, I turned on the Solar System feature immediately. I thought it would be a fun way to see who I talk to the most. For a few months, it was all fun and games. My best friend was my Mercury, my sister was my Venus—everything felt “right” in the universe.
But then, things got… interesting. I noticed my Mercury changed. Suddenly, a guy I was barely talking to from my old college days had bumped my actual best friend to the #2 spot. Why? Because we were trading mindless “Streaks” of random gym photos every single day.
It hit me then: the system doesn’t measure “love” or “loyalty”—it measures raw data. It counts every snap, every chat, and every interaction. Seeing my best friend drop to Venus actually gave me a tiny bit of “social FOMO,” even though I knew it was just an algorithm. I had to step back and realize that being a “Neptune” in someone’s world doesn’t mean they don’t like me; it just means we haven’t sent 50 memes to each other this week.
Read More: Snapchat Planets vs Instagram Close Friends: Tech Review
What Exactly Are Snapchat Planets?
In short, the Friend Solar System is a visual representation of your top eight friends. You are the Sun, and your friends are the planets orbiting you. Their “closeness” to you (how much you interact) determines which planet they are assigned.
- Mercury is your #1 Best Friend.
- Neptune is your #8 Best Friend.
The Snapchat Planets Order and Meaning
Based on my deep dives into community feedback and the latest 2026 updates, here is the definitive breakdown of what each planet looks like and what it actually says about your friendship.
1. Mercury (The Inner Circle)
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. On Snapchat, this is your ride-or-die. You probably talk to this person every hour.
- Visuals: A red planet with five red hearts orbiting it.
- Vibe: Total Besties. You probably have a massive streak and share everything.
2. Venus
Venus is the second planet. This person is incredibly close to you, but maybe they don’t get that #1 spot because of a few missed chats.
- Visuals: A light brown/tan planet with pink, yellow, and blue hearts.
- Vibe: A very close second. You guys are tight.
3. Earth
The third spot goes to Earth. This is a solid, reliable friendship.
- Visuals: The classic blue and green planet with a little moon and red hearts.
- Vibe: You’re in the inner circle, but maybe you don’t “spam” each other as much.
4. Mars
Mars is the fourth planet. This is where things start to shift toward “casual but frequent.”
- Visuals: A red planet with stars and purple/blue hearts.
- Vibe: You definitely stay in touch, but it’s not a constant stream of messages.
The Outer Reaches: Jupiter to Neptune
Once you get past the first four, the interaction frequency usually drops off a bit. These are friends you likely “check in” with rather than “chat constantly” with.
5. Jupiter
- Visuals: A reddish-orange planet with dark stripes and stars.
- Vibe: A good friend you keep a steady rhythm with.
6. Saturn
- Visuals: An orange planet with its iconic ring and stars.
- Vibe: You’re still in the top 8! This is usually someone you have meaningful but less frequent chats with.
7. Uranus
- Visuals: A green planet with yellow stars. (Notice the hearts are gone now).
- Vibe: Occasional best friends. You might snap them a few times a week.
8. Neptune
- Visuals: A deep blue planet with a few sparkles.
- Vibe: You’ve made the cut! You’re in the top 8, but you’re at the edge of the social galaxy.
Snapchat Planets Ranking Table
| Rank | Planet | Visual Key | Friendship Level |
| #1 | Mercury | Red + Red Hearts | Most Interacted / “Bestie” |
| #2 | Venus | Tan + Colorful Hearts | Extremely Close |
| #3 | Earth | Blue/Green + Moon | Solid & Consistent |
| #4 | Mars | Red + Blue/Purple Hearts | Very Active |
| #5 | Jupiter | Striped Orange + Stars | Regular Contact |
| #6 | Saturn | Orange + Rings | Steady/Dependable |
| #7 | Uranus | Green + Stars | Occasional Snaps |
| #8 | Neptune | Deep Blue + Sparkles | Distant but Still Top 8 |
Reddit Snapchat Plus Tips: How to Use This Knowledge
The viral planet trends on Reddit often focus on how people use this feature to “test” their relationships. Honestly, this part confused me at first—why do people care so much? But for many, it’s a way to see where they stand in someone else’s life.
Here are a few tips I’ve picked up from the Reddit community:
- The One-Way Mirror: Remember, just because someone is your Mercury doesn’t mean you are their Mercury. It’s a one-way street based on your personal activity.
- Privacy Mode: If this whole thing gives you anxiety (which it did for a lot of people), Snapchat recently made it so you have to opt-in to the Solar System. You can turn it off in your Snapchat+ settings if you’d rather not see the rankings.
- The “Streak” Hack: If you want to move someone up your list, start a streak. Sending a daily photo is the fastest way to move from Neptune to Earth in a matter of days.
Have you ever felt a little “sting” when you realized you were someone’s Neptune? I definitely have. It’s a weirdly human reaction to a piece of code!
FAQ: Your Top Snapchat Planet Questions Answered
Can other people see my Snapchat Solar System?
No. Your personal Solar System is private to you. However, if you have Snapchat+, you can see what planet you are in your friend’s Solar System by tapping the “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge on their profile.
Why did my friend disappear from my planets?
Usually, this happens because your interaction with them dropped, and someone else became more active. If they disappear entirely from your Top 8, they won’t have a planet assigned anymore.
Does being a planet affect my Snap Score?
Nope! Your Snap Score is a total count of all snaps sent and received. The Planet system is just a ranking of who those snaps are going to. They are two separate systems.
Can I manually change someone’s planet?
Unfortunately, no. The only way to “move” a friend is to interact with them more (to move them up) or less (to move them down). It’s all automated by the Snapchat algorithm.
Martin’s Final Tip
The Snapchat Solar System is a fun, “gamified” way to look at your friendships, but don’t let it define your real-world relationships. I’ve had “Neptune” friends who are actually my closest real-life confidants—we just happen to use iMessage or see each other in person more than we Snap. Use it for the cool visuals and the “prestige” of Snapchat+, but don’t lose sleep over being a Saturn!
Would you like me to create a custom chart showing how to move up the ranks for each specific planet?
