The Sun on Snapchat: Why You are the Center of the System
Hey there! Grab a coffee and pull up a chair. If you’ve been clicking around your friends’ profiles lately and saw a glowing profile sun icon or a bunch of planets spinning around, you’ve probably felt a mix of “Whoa, cool!” and “Wait, what does this actually mean?”
I’ve been a Snapchat power user since the days when the ghost icon was just a doodle, and honestly, the Snapchat Solar System Sun is one of those features that turned my social life into a literal galaxy. It’s part of the Snapchat Plus layout, and today, I’m going to break down why you’re the center of the universe (on the app, at least) and how this whole “orbit” thing works.
My Personal Experience with the Snapchat Solar System
I remember the exact moment I realized how serious people take the center of orbit logic. About six months ago, my younger sister, Chloe, called me in a minor panic. “Martin,” she said, “I’m not your Mercury anymore. I’ve drifted to Earth. Who have you been snapping?”
I laughed it off at first, but then I checked. Sure enough, my college roommate had bumped her out of the #1 spot because we were planning a cross-country road trip and sending 50+ snaps a day. Seeing my sister’s Bitmoji move from the closest planet to the third one away from my friendship sun was a wake-up call. It wasn’t just an icon; it was a visual receipt of my digital time.
What I learned is that the system is incredibly dynamic. It’s not a static “best friend” list like we had in 2015. It’s a living, breathing map of your interactions. Since then, I’ve used it as a “vibe check.” If someone I care about drifts out to Neptune, I know it’s time to reach out and send a proper update.
Read More: How to Fix Snapchat Planets Blurry (2026 Guide)
What is the Snapchat Solar System Sun?
When you subscribe to Snapchat Plus, the app changes how it visualizes your “Best Friends.” In the standard version, you just get emojis like the yellow heart or the “smirk.” But with the Snapchat Solar System Sun, you become the center of a literal solar system.
You are the Sun
In your own world, you are the Snapchat Solar System Sun. Your top 8 best friends are assigned a planet based on how much you interact with them.
- The Sun: This is the person whose profile you are viewing (from their perspective) or you (from your perspective).
- The Planets: These are the friends orbiting the sun.
The Center of Orbit
The center of orbit is the person with the most interactions. Snapchat looks at your Snaps sent, Snaps received, and Chat frequency to calculate the distance. It’s a bit like gravity—the more you “pull” on each other with messages, the closer you stay to the sun.
The Snapchat Plus Layout: Breaking Down the Planets
Understanding the Snapchat Plus layout is easier if you remember your 5th-grade science class. The order of the planets dictates the “rank” of the friendship.
| Rank | Planet | Visual Cue | What it Means |
| #1 | Mercury | Pink/Red planet with red hearts | Your absolute BFF. Most interactions. |
| #2 | Venus | Beige planet with pink/yellow hearts | Second closest. You’re tight, but not #1. |
| #3 | Earth | Blue & Green with red hearts & Moon | Third place. A very solid, daily connection. |
| #4 | Mars | Red planet with purple hearts | Fourth place. High interaction, but trending lower. |
| #5 | Jupiter | Orange planet with stripes (no hearts) | Fifth place. You talk often, but maybe not daily. |
| #6 | Saturn | Yellow planet with rings | Sixth place. A steady friend in the rotation. |
| #7 | Uranus | Green planet (no hearts) | Seventh place. You’re in the inner circle, barely. |
| #8 | Neptune | Blue, cold planet | Eighth place. The edge of your Best Friend list. |
How to Find Your Profile Sun Icon
If you’re looking for the profile sun icon, you won’t find it on the main camera screen. You have to dig a little deeper into the Friendship Profiles.
- Open a Chat: Go to your friend’s chat.
- Tap their Bitmoji: This opens their Friendship Profile.
- Look for the Badge: If you are a Snapchat Plus subscriber, you’ll see a “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge with a gold border.
- Tap the Badge: This is where the magic happens. A pop-up will appear saying, “You’re in their Solar System!” and will show you exactly which planet you are.
Martin’s Note: Honestly, it’s a little nerve-wracking the first time you tap that badge. Seeing yourself as “Neptune” when you thought you were “Mercury” is a total reality check!
Why the Sun is Off by Default Now
You might have noticed that if you just signed up for Snapchat Plus, the Snapchat Solar System Sun isn’t showing up. Why? Well, Snapchat actually caught some heat for this feature.
Some users felt it caused “friendship anxiety”—basically, people getting upset because they weren’t someone’s “Mercury.” Because of this, Snapchat made the feature opt-in.
How to Enable the Friend Solar System:
- Go to your Profile.
- Tap on your Snapchat+ Membership card.
- Find Friend Solar System and toggle it ON.
Have you ever felt that “friendship anxiety” Chloe felt? It’s a real thing! I personally like the transparency, but I get why some people prefer to keep the rankings hidden.
The Difference Between “Best Friends” and “Friends” Badges
This part confused me at first, but it’s actually quite logical. When you look at the friendship sun layout, the badge name tells you the “mutual” status:
- Best Friends Badge: This means you are in their Top 8 AND they are in your Top 8. It’s a mutual orbit!
- Friends Badge: This means you are in their Top 8, but they didn’t quite make the cut for your Top 8. (Ouch, right?)
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. Does the other person know I’m checking their Solar System?
Nope! Checking someone’s planet rank in their system is totally private. They won’t get a notification that you’re “stalking” their orbit. However, you both need to have the feature enabled to see the badges.
2. Can I change my position in someone’s orbit?
Yes, but you have to do it the old-fashioned way: talk to them! Send more Snaps, reply to their stories, and keep those streaks alive. The more you interact, the closer to the Snapchat Solar System Sun you’ll move.
3. Why am I not in my BFF’s solar system at all?
If you don’t see a badge, it usually means one of two things: either one of you hasn’t enabled the “Friend Solar System” feature in settings, or you aren’t in each other’s top 8 most-interacted-with friends.
4. Is the Sun always the same person?
The “Sun” is always the person whose profile you are looking at. If you look at Sarah’s profile, Sarah is the Sun. If Sarah looks at your profile, you are the Sun. It’s all about perspective!
Martin’s Final Tip
The Snapchat Solar System Sun is a blast, but don’t let it rule your life. Just because you’re “Mars” instead of “Mercury” doesn’t mean your friendship is failing—it just means you haven’t sent a selfie in a few days! Use it as a fun way to see who you’re vibing with, but don’t overthink the “distance.”
Would you like me to show you how to customize your Snapchat Plus app icon next to match your new “Galactic” vibe?
