Snapchat Planets Meaning: The Friend Solar System Order Explained
- The planets are the Snapchat+ Friend Solar System, which shows your rank among a friend's top 8 best friends.
- Order from closest to farthest: Mercury (1), Venus (2), Earth (3), Mars (4), Jupiter (5), Saturn (6), Uranus (7), Neptune (8).
- The planet you see describes where you rank for them, not where they rank for you.
- Rankings come from interaction and change over time. Subscribers can switch the feature off.
- Planets only appear on Friendship Profiles, never on public creator profiles or in web tools.
If you've seen a small planet on a friend's Snapchat profile and wondered what it means, you're looking at the Friend Solar System. It's a Snapchat+ feature that shows how close you are to a friend by placing you on a planet in their "solar system". The closer the planet is to the Sun, the higher you rank among their best friends. Here's the complete explanation.
What is the Snapchat Friend Solar System?
Snapchat already ranks your friends behind the scenes based on how much you interact with them. That's what powers your Best Friends list and the friend emojis. The Friend Solar System turns that ranking into planets. When a Snapchat+ subscriber opens a friend's Friendship Profile, they can see a planet that shows where they rank among that friend's top eight best friends.
In other words, the planet you see on someone's profile describes your position in their best friends list, not their position in yours.
The Snapchat planets in order
The planets follow our real solar system, starting from the planet closest to the Sun:
| Position | Planet | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercury | You are this person's #1 best friend. |
| 2 | Venus | You are their 2nd closest friend. |
| 3 | Earth | You are their 3rd closest friend. |
| 4 | Mars | You are their 4th closest friend. |
| 5 | Jupiter | You are their 5th closest friend. |
| 6 | Saturn | You are their 6th closest friend. |
| 7 | Uranus | You are their 7th closest friend. |
| 8 | Neptune | You are their 8th closest friend. |
Pluto isn't part of the system, so there are only eight positions. If you aren't in someone's top eight, you won't see a planet on their profile.
Hearts and stars around the planet
The planet's decoration also tells you something. Snapchat uses different decorations depending on whether the closeness goes both ways, generally hearts when you are close friends with each other, and stars when the friendship is stronger on one side. The design has changed between app versions, so treat the planet's position as the main signal and the decoration as a hint.
Who can see the planets?
The Friend Solar System is part of Snapchat+, Snapchat's paid subscription. You need an active subscription to see where you rank on friends' profiles. Friends without Snapchat+ don't see the planets, and the feature only appears on Friendship Profiles, the profile page you see when you tap a friend's name, not on public creator profiles.
How to find your planet on a friend's profile
- Make sure your Snapchat+ subscription is active and your app is up to date.
- Open a chat with the friend and tap their Bitmoji or name at the top to open their Friendship Profile.
- Look for the Snapchat+ badge or a "Friends" section near their name. If you're in their top eight, you'll see a planet. Tap it to see the solar system view.
How the ranking is calculated
Snapchat hasn't published an exact formula. The ranking is based on how much you and your friend interact: snapping, chatting and other activity over recent days and weeks. It updates over time, so a planet can change if your interaction patterns change. One busy week of snapping someone new can push other friends further from the Sun.
Because the ranking reflects interaction, not feelings, try not to read too much into it. Someone who calls you every day but rarely uses Snapchat may never rank you highly in the app.
How to turn the Friend Solar System on or off
Snapchat+ subscribers can hide the feature so other subscribers can't see where they rank on their profile. In the app, go to your profile, open the Snapchat+ section, and switch off Friend Solar System. The exact menu names can differ slightly between app versions. Turning it off also stops you from seeing planets on other people's profiles.
Planets vs friend emojis
Snapchat has shown friendship status with emojis for years. For example, a yellow heart means you're each other's #1 best friend, and a smiling face means you're one of their best friends. The planets add more detail by revealing the exact position from 1 to 8. If you want to decode the emojis too, read our guide to Snapchat emojis and icons.
Common questions about Snapchat planets
Why don't I see a planet on my friend's profile?
Either you don't have Snapchat+, you aren't in their top eight, they've turned the feature off, or your app needs updating.
Can someone see what planet they are in my solar system?
Yes, if they have Snapchat+ and you haven't turned the feature off. The planet they see shows their rank among your best friends.
Does the planet change?
Yes. It's recalculated as your interactions change, so it isn't permanent.
Can I see someone's planets with a story viewer?
No. Planets are private relationship data inside the app. Tools like the SnapSave profile viewer only show public profile information, such as public stories, highlights, bio and subscriber count.