What Is the Snapchat Solar System? A Storytelling Guide
On a quiet Saturday night, Maria was sitting on her rooftop, enjoying the cold breeze after a long day. Her phone buzzed — a Snap from her best friend, Hania. When she opened her Chat, she noticed something strange next to Hania’s Bitmoji: a glowing planet. That unexpected symbol sparked her curiosity about the Snapchat solar system and what it actually meant.
It looked like a tiny version of Earth, spinning softly. Maria blinked. Why is Snapchat suddenly showing planets? Was this a new feature? Or did it mean something about their friendship?
Curious and slightly confused, she tapped the icon — and that’s how she discovered the Snapchat Solar System, a feature that has become one of Snapchat’s most interesting ways to show friendship ranking.
What Exactly Is the Snapchat Solar System?
The Snapchat Solar System is a premium feature inside Snapchat+ that represents your friendship ranking with someone using the eight planets from our real solar system.
Instead of showing plain emojis or labels, Snapchat uses planets like Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune to tell you how close you are to someone.
Each planet represents a specific ranking in your Best Friends list. The closer the planet is to the sun, the higher the ranking.
Why Snapchat Added the Solar System Feature
Instead of simple icons, Snapchat wanted to create a fun, visually engaging way for people to understand their social connections. It turns your digital social life into a little universe — only available if you subscribe to Snapchat+.
Just like in Maria’s case, the planetary symbol next to a friend tells you whether someone is one of your closest friends, somewhere in the middle, or just a casual connection.
How the Snapchat Solar System Works (Simple Explanation)
If you and someone else talk frequently, share streaks, reply to snaps, or stay consistently connected — Snapchat places them closer in your “solar system.”
Here’s how the ranking works:
- Mercury – #1 Best Friend
- Venus – #2
- Earth – #3
- Mars – #4
- Jupiter – #5
- Saturn – #6
- Uranus – #7
- Neptune – #8
So when Maria saw the Earth planet next to Hania’s chat, she realized Hania was her third closest friend on Snapchat.
A Fun Twist: The Planets Don’t Show Publicly
One important thing Maria learned: the planet only shows to you on your device. Your friends can’t see which planet they got in your list unless they also subscribe to Snapchat+ and check their own ranking.
It’s a private little universe that only you can explore.
Why People Love (and Sometimes Hate) This Feature
During the next week, Maria noticed the planets changed based on how much she chatted with people. A friend who was once Venus became Mars. Another moved from Jupiter to Saturn.
The Solar System feature is fun but also emotional. It reflects real-time engagement, not long-term friendship.
People like it because it’s visual and unique, makes ranking interesting, and adds fun to daily interactions. But some dislike how quickly rankings change or that it requires Snapchat+.
Why You Might See a Different Planet for the Same Friend
Even if Maria saw Earth for Hania, Hania didn’t always see Maria as Earth. That’s because friendship rankings are separate for each user.
Planets are always based on your personal activity and updated automatically.
Should You Subscribe to Snapchat+ for This Feature?
If you enjoy tracking friendships, exclusive features, and a fun representation of your social circle, then Snapchat+ might be worth it.
But if rankings cause overthinking or anxiety, you may not need it.
Final Thoughts
As Maria sat back on her rooftop, she tapped the Earth icon again and smiled. She realized the planets were just symbols. What mattered was the real connection behind them.
The Snapchat Solar System is a playful, imaginative way to explore digital friendships. Whether it’s Mercury or Neptune, each planet represents your closeness in a simple, creative way — always shifting like the real universe.
