Blog Post

How to memorise the planets of the solar system

Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).

Hi there! I’m Laika, and I’m excited to help you learn the names of the planets in our solar system.

One fun and memorable way to learn them is by using a mnemonic device, which is a phrase or sentence where each word represents the first letter of each planet’s name in order from the sun outwards.

Here’s a great mnemonic to remember the planets:

My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nachos”

Let’s break it down:

M – Mercury (closest to the Sun)
V – Venus
E – Earth (our home planet)
M – Mars
J – Jupiter (the largest planet)
S – Saturn (known for its beautiful rings)
U – Uranus
N – Neptune.

Pluto used to be considered the ninth planet, but it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. If you still want to include Pluto, you can extend the mnemonic to:

My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nachos, Patiently”

The last word, “Patiently,” represents Pluto.

Repeat this mnemonic a few times, and you’ll have the planet names memorised in no time! If you have any more questions about the planets or space, feel free to ask. I’m here to help you explore the wonders of the universe!

Need another way to learn the planet names? Here’s another fun mnemonic to help you remember the order of the planets:

“My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets”

Let’s break it down:

M – Mercury
V – Venus
E – Earth
M – Mars
J – Jupiter
S – Saturn
U – Uranus
N – Neptune
P – Pluto (if you want to include the dwarf planet)

You can also try creating a silly story using the planet names to help you remember their order. Here’s an example:

“Mercury and Venus went to Earth for a picnic. After lunch, they took a trip to Mars in Jupiter’s fast car. On their way, they saw Saturn’s shiny rings and Uranus spinning on its side. As they passed Neptune, they waved hello to distant Pluto.”

Feel free to make up your own story using the planet names – the sillier, the better! When you create a story that’s fun and memorable for you, it can be easier to recall the information later.

Remember, learning should be enjoyable! If you come up with any other cool ways to remember the planets, I’d love to hear them. And if you have any other questions about space, just ask – I’m here to help!

A visual way to learn the planet names

Here’s another creative way to remember the order of the planets using a visual method:

Imagine you’re standing on the sun, and you’re looking out at the planets. Now, let’s assign each planet a unique object that you can visualize in your mind:

Mercury – A small, silver Mercury thermometer
Venus – A bright, beautiful Venus flytrap plant
Earth – A globe of the Earth
Mars – A red Mars bar candy
Jupiter – A large, striped Jupiter lighthouse
Saturn – A shiny, golden Saturn’s ring
Uranus – A tilted, blue Uranus ice cream cone
Neptune – A deep, blue Neptune’s trident
(Pluto – A small, distant Pluto the dog from Disney)

Now, picture these objects in order, starting from the sun and moving outwards. Imagine the Mercury thermometer closest to the sun, followed by the Venus flytrap, then the Earth globe, and so on.

You can even create a story connecting these objects to make the visualisation more memorable. For example:

“The small Mercury thermometer was getting too hot next to the sun, so it hopped over to the Venus flytrap for some shade. The Earth globe rolled by, chasing after the Mars bar that had melted in the heat. They passed the tall Jupiter lighthouse and Saturn’s shiny ring before stopping to cool off with a tilted Uranus ice cream cone. In the distance, they could see Neptune’s trident and tiny Pluto the dog.”

By combining visual elements with a story, you engage multiple parts of your brain, making it easier to remember the planet order. Give this method a try and see if it works for you!

Interested in exploring more about space? Chat more with me, Laika!

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