The Complete Guide to Planet Snapchat Icons: What Each Planet Says About Your Relationship
In the world of social media, no platform blends playfulness, mystery, and relationship psychology quite like Snapchat. Over the years, Snapchat has introduced several features that help users understand their connection with friends — from Snapstreaks to Bitmoji interactions. But among all these features, the most fascinating and widely talked about is the Planet Snapchat Icons system.
If you’ve ever tapped on your Best Friends Solar System in Snapchat Plus and found yourself staring at planets like the Sun, Moon, Mars, or Jupiter floating around your friend’s Bitmoji, you’re not alone. Millions of users want to know what these Snapchat planet icons actually mean and what they reveal about their friendships.
This guide breaks down every planet Snapchat, explains what each one means, how the ranking system works, and how your interactions influence your place in someone’s solar system. By the end, you’ll understand exactly what each planet says about your relationship and why Snapchat designed it this way.
What Are Planet Snapchat Icons?
Planet Snapchat Icons are part of the Snapchat Plus “Friend Solar System” feature, which ranks your closeness with a friend using animated planets instead of plain labels. Snapchat gives each friend a planet based on how frequently you interact with them, making your top eight friends a miniature solar system.
Instead of just telling you someone is your “#1 Best Friend,” Snapchat assigns them: The Sun or planets like Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each planet has a symbolic meaning, and its place in your Snapchat universe visually represents your relationship.
This system is available only for Snapchat Plus subscribers, but the icons have become so popular that even non-subscribers want to know what the planets mean.
Why Did Snapchat Use Planets for Friend Rankings?
Snapchat could have used simple labels like “Top Friend” or “Close Friend,” but instead, it chose astrology-styled planets. Here’s why:
- Visual storytelling makes relationships more meaningful — Using planets makes the ranking feel like a cosmic bond rather than a cold statistic.
- Astrology is insanely popular among Gen Z — Cosmic symbols, zodiac signs, and universe aesthetics are loved by younger users.
- It gamifies friendships — Users often try to “move closer to the Sun” or maintain a planet position.
- It adds emotional depth — A Venus friend “feels” different than a Mars friend — even if the underlying metric is just message frequency.
How the Snapchat Planet System Works
The system is simple:
Your #1 Best Friend = The Sun
Your next top 7 friends get planets in order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
If you’re someone's: Sun → you are their #1 best friend; Mercury → you’re their #2 best friend; Earth → you’re their #3 best friend; and so on… Each planet’s color, animation style, and orbit represent how close you are to the other person.
All Snapchat Planet Icons — What Each Planet Says
How Snapchat Determines Your Planet Rank
Although Snapchat doesn’t reveal the exact algorithm, these factors matter the most:
- Snap frequency
- Chat messages
- Story views
- Reactions and replies
- Snapstreaks
- Bitmoji interactions
- Mutual engagement
- Recency of interactions
What the Planet Icons Say About Your Relationship
The planet positions reveal different types of connection — from the Sun (closest) to Neptune (distant). Below is a quick reference table.
| Planet | Position | Relationship Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | #1 | Closest friendship, top priority |
| Mercury | #2 | High communication, strong bond |
| Venus | #3 | Fun, joyful friendship |
| Earth | #4 | Balanced, stable relationship |
| Mars | #5 | Energetic, passionate, dynamic |
| Jupiter | #6 | Growing friendship |
| Saturn | #7 | Long-term but quiet bond |
| Uranus | #8 | Unique, unpredictable connection |
| Neptune | #9 | Distant but meaningful |
Emotional Impact of Snapchat Planets
These icons influence how people feel about their friendships:
- Validation — Getting someone’s Sun spot can feel emotionally rewarding.
- Competition — Friends sometimes compete for higher planets.
- Anxiety — Dropping from Mercury to Mars may make users question the friendship.
- Motivation — People may interact more to increase their planet ranking.
Snapchat has essentially gamified friendship — and users love it.
How to Improve Your Planet Ranking
If you want to move closer to someone in their solar system:
- Send more snaps
- Keep conversations active
- Maintain streaks
- React to stories
- Reply quickly
- Focus communication on that person
- Avoid messaging too many others
- Use Bitmoji interactions
Your goal should be consistent, mutual engagement.
Will Snapchat Add More Planet Features?
Many Snapchat Plus users expect future updates such as:
- Customized solar systems
- Shared zodiac-themed interactions
- More planets or moons
- AI-based friendship insights
- Compatibility charts
- Story-based cosmic badges
Given its popularity, Snapchat will likely expand the system further.
Conclusion: What the Planet Snapchat Icons Really Mean
The Planet Snapchat Icons system makes digital friendships feel cosmic, symbolic, and emotionally rich. Instead of simply telling you who your best friend is, Snapchat transforms relationships into a solar system — with you and your friends orbiting each other in meaningful ways.
Sun friends are your closest connections. Mercury and Venus friends are part of your everyday life. Mars and Jupiter friends are growing or dynamic. Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune friends remain part of your universe, even from a distance.
Understanding this planets helps you decode your digital relationships and appreciate the people who orbit closest to you.