Snap Planets in Order: A Complete Expert Guide to Snapchat’s Friend Solar System
Introduction to Snap Planets in Order
Snapchat is known for quietly adding features that feel fun on the surface but are surprisingly detailed once you dig in. One of the most talked-about additions in recent years is Snap Planets, a feature tied to Snapchat+ that visualizes your friendships using a solar system concept. When people search for “snap planets in order,” they’re usually trying to understand what these planets mean and how Snapchat ranks friends.
At its core, Snap Planets is Snapchat’s creative way of showing interaction levels. Instead of boring lists or numbers, Snapchat turns your top friends into planets orbiting around you, with you represented as the Sun. Each planet reflects how close you are to that person based on your interactions, such as snaps, chats, and overall engagement.
This guide breaks down snap planets in order, explains what each planet represents, and clears up common misunderstandings. I’ll keep it casual and readable, but everything here is grounded in how the feature actually works, not speculation or guesses.
What Are Snap Planets and How Do They Work?
Snap Planets are part of Snapchat’s Friend Solar System, a Snapchat+ exclusive feature. If you subscribe to Snapchat+, you can tap on a friend’s profile and see their planet position if they’re among your top eight friends. This system replaces traditional rankings with a visual hierarchy that’s easier—and more fun—to understand.
Each planet represents a relative position, not a fixed score. Snapchat’s algorithm looks at how frequently you snap, chat, and interact with someone compared to others. The more consistent and recent your interactions are, the closer that person’s planet is to you (the Sun).
What’s important to understand is that Snap Planets are dynamic. The order can change at any time depending on how your interaction patterns shift. Someone who was Mercury yesterday could move to Mars or even fall out of the system if engagement drops.
Why Snap Planets in Order Matter More Than You Think
At first glance, Snap Planets might seem like a cosmetic feature, but they subtly influence how users perceive relationships on Snapchat. Seeing someone as Mercury versus Neptune can instantly communicate closeness without a single word being exchanged.
The snap planets in order also encourage consistent interaction. Many users, whether consciously or not, try to maintain or improve their planetary position. This gamification keeps users snapping, replying, and staying active on the platform longer.
From an expert standpoint, this is classic engagement design. Snapchat transforms abstract data into emotional visuals, making friendships feel tangible and ranked without explicitly saying so. That’s why understanding the planet order actually helps you understand Snapchat’s social mechanics better.
Snap Planets in Order Explained from Closest to Farthest
When people ask about snap planets in order, they usually want the exact sequence from closest friend to least interacted friend in the solar system. Snapchat follows the real solar system for this feature, which makes it intuitive once you know the order.
The planets appear in this sequence: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each one represents a ranking among your top eight friends, with Mercury being the closest and Neptune being the farthest.
It’s important to remember that this order is personalized. Your Mercury is not the same as someone else’s Mercury. The system only reflects your interactions, not a global ranking or mutual status.
Mercury: Your #1 Best Friend on Snapchat
Mercury sits closest to the Sun, and in Snap Planets, it represents your number one best friend. This is the person you interact with the most consistently, whether through snaps, chats, or streaks.
If someone appears as Mercury in your solar system, it means your communication with them outweighs all other friendships on Snapchat. This usually includes daily snapping, frequent replies, and ongoing conversations that remain active over time.
From experience, Mercury positions tend to be stable but not permanent. If interaction slows down, Mercury can shift quickly. Snapchat’s algorithm values recent engagement, so staying active matters just as much as past history.
Venus: Strong and Consistent Interaction
Venus represents your second closest friend. While not quite as dominant as Mercury, Venus still indicates a strong and ongoing connection. This is often someone you snap almost daily but slightly less than your top friend.
Venus placements usually involve consistent communication without the intensity of constant messaging. Think regular snaps, occasional chats, and a steady presence in your Snapchat routine.
What’s interesting is how close Venus and Mercury can feel in practice. Sometimes, the difference between the two comes down to small interaction changes over a short period, not a dramatic shift in friendship quality.
Earth and Mars: Reliable but Less Intense Connections
Earth represents your third closest friend, while Mars comes in at fourth. These positions still reflect meaningful interaction, but with less frequency or intensity than Mercury and Venus.
Earth often includes friends you communicate with multiple times a week. Mars, on the other hand, may represent someone you snap regularly but not daily, or someone you engage with more casually.
These middle planets are where rankings tend to fluctuate the most. A few days of increased activity can push someone from Mars to Venus, while inactivity can quickly drop them down the order.
Jupiter and Saturn: Casual Yet Ongoing Friendships
Jupiter and Saturn sit farther from the Sun, representing your fifth and sixth closest friends. These friendships are still active but less central to your Snapchat experience.
You might snap these people occasionally, reply to their stories, or exchange messages sporadically. They’re not core daily contacts, but they remain within your interaction orbit.
From an expert perspective, these planets show Snapchat’s emphasis on relative engagement. Even minimal interaction can keep someone ranked if others fall behind or stop engaging altogether.
Uranus and Neptune: The Edge of Your Snapchat Solar System
Uranus and Neptune represent your seventh and eighth closest friends, making them the farthest planets in the Snap Planets order. These are typically low-frequency interactions that still qualify for your top eight.
These positions often include friends you snap occasionally, respond to infrequently, or interact with in bursts rather than consistently. Neptune, in particular, can change frequently as new interactions replace older ones.
It’s worth noting that falling out of Neptune means someone is no longer in your top eight at all. Snapchat does not display planets beyond Neptune, reinforcing the exclusivity of this system.
Common Misconceptions About Snap Planets in Order
One of the biggest misconceptions is that Snap Planets represent mutual rankings. In reality, your planet position for someone may not match theirs for you. The system is one-sided and entirely based on your interaction data.
Another misunderstanding is that streaks alone determine planet placement. While streaks help, Snapchat also considers chats, response time, and overall engagement patterns. A streak without conversation may not guarantee a higher rank.
Lastly, many users think Snap Planets are permanent. They’re not. The order can shift daily, sometimes hourly, depending on how your Snapchat behavior changes.
Final Thoughts on Snap Planets in Order
Understanding snap planets in order gives you insight into how Snapchat interprets your social behavior. It’s not just a visual gimmick—it’s a real-time reflection of your engagement patterns and communication habits.
From Mercury to Neptune, each planet tells a story about consistency, frequency, and relevance. While the system is playful, it’s also a smart design choice that keeps users emotionally invested in their friendships.
If you use Snapchat+ and want to make sense of Snap Planets, think of them as a mirror rather than a scorecard. They don’t define your relationships—but they do reveal how you show up on Snapchat every day.

