# Need a better nmemonic for planetary bodies in the solar system **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610 "2012-03-23T15:58:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vicullum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6de8d8/32.png) [@Vicullum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicullum)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/1 "2012-03-23T15:58:02Z")
In grade school I learned “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.” This served me well and good for decades until they decided to muddy the water with this whole [dwarf planet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_planet) business. So what’s a better one with these four other additions? Edit: Bah, that should be “mnemonic”. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/2 "2012-03-23T16:44:41Z")
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/3 "2012-03-23T17:02:37Z")
> [@Vicullum](#): > > Edit: Bah, that should be “mnemonic”. Did you forget the correct spelling? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/4 "2012-03-23T17:03:51Z")
There are lists where I can see the point in a mnemonic, but this isn’t one of them. It’s not like anyone goes through an extended stage of having a hard time learning the names of the planets. The Firebug knows most of their names at the age of four and a half, and I remember knowing them all (including former planet Pluto), their order from the sun, and the number of then-known moons of each one, when I was six. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/5 "2012-03-23T17:05:19Z")
> [@Vicullum](#): > > In grade school I learned “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.” This served me well and good for decades until they decided to muddy the water with this whole [dwarf planet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_planet) business. > > So what’s a better one with these four other additions? > > Edit: Bah, that should be “mnemonic”. Without Pluto it’s “My very extroverted maid just served us naked.” ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/6 "2012-03-23T17:14:06Z")
I learned “M VEM J SUN P” pronounced “Em Vem Jay Sun Pea” ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/7 "2012-03-23T17:31:37Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > There are lists where I can see the point in a mnemonic, but this isn’t one of them. It’s not like anyone goes through an extended stage of having a hard time learning the names of the planets. The Firebug knows most of their names at the age of four and a half, and I remember knowing them all (including former planet Pluto), their order from the sun, and the number of then-known moons of each one, when I was six. But not everyone thinks like you and I think it’s rather silly to suggest that people don’t need mnemonics for things that you don’t need them for. I’m sure you might have little memory tricks that others think are silly or unnecessary, but it would be rather bizarre to judge you on that. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I like mnemonics, and this one is useful because it’s very easy to remember and simultaneously contains not only the names but the order of the planets without having to learn those facts separately. I remember random things from school over the years that I never have to work with or use ever again - because I created a good enough mnemonic that 10, 15 years later I can still recall and apply. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/8 "2012-03-23T17:41:38Z")
Many Very Early Men Ate Juicy Steaks Using No Plates. Ate - is for the asteriod belt between Mars and Jupiter. Plates - is for Pluto. If it was a planet when i learned about planets, it’s still a planet god damn it! I’m not letting this new fangled lurnin tell me different. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/9 "2012-03-24T03:59:33Z")
> [@Vicullum](#): > > Edit: Bah, that should be “mnemonic”. My Never Educated Mother Offers Nachos In Cups. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/10 "2012-03-24T17:23:28Z")
When I was a five I had [_A Child’s Introduction To Outer Space_](http://www.ele-mental.org/%7Eecc/exo/exotica/outerspace/childs%20intro..jpg), which included a song called _The Wandering Stars_. \*Mercury Venus Earth and Mars Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus Neptune and Pluto! The wandering stars \* I played it incessantly (on my little ‘suitcase-style’ record player), and it drove my older sister nuts. But she got an answer right on a test once, because the song was firmly lodged in her head. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/11 "2012-03-25T00:49:49Z")
Somehow this Saved By the Bell episode has stuck in my head all of these years: [youtube link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpGvDTMSMJw#t=35) “Meh-vem-juh-sunp.” ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/12 "2012-03-25T04:40:36Z")
In the 1950s I learned the planets from this song from a popular children’s record, music by Raymond Scott: [Raymond Scott - By Rocket To The Moon (good sound quality) - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nDk_EQQnS8#t=1m40s) Interestingly, there are women on the first rocket to the Moon! ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/13 "2012-03-25T06:12:41Z")
My very educated mother just served us nothing. I like the maid one better. I don’t use mnemonics, I just make up songs. You should really pity my wife, as she has to hear them. I’m personally proudest of a song I wrote for the Salem Witch Trials…for my upper division history class. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/14 "2012-03-25T08:04:44Z")
Mnemonics!, Vicullum Entreated. Make Jumbled Sentences Up Now (Please) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/15 "2012-03-25T19:57:01Z")
I learned a slight variation on these, based on a noenclature that seems now to have been abandoned. Earth = the world we’re living on. If you’re writing a SF story set on Gamma Velarum II, “Where on Earth…?” is still valid. The planet our species evolved on, where we all still live as of now, is the Latin for Earth, Terra, as a proper name. Likewise the bright globe in the sky during the daytime is the sun; Earth’s Sun, the single star 4.3 light years from the Alpha Centauri complex. is Sol, a proper name. And the satellites of said planet are its moons, our own being named Luna. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/16 "2012-03-25T20:02:11Z")
Mr Vorlon Expects More Juicy Satire Using Nouns Please. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/17 "2012-03-26T04:20:44Z")
I think the OP was calling for the new mnemonic to include Ceres, Haumea, Makemake and Eris. So in order, I think that would be: M V E M J S U N C P H M E ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/18 "2012-03-26T04:23:06Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I think the OP was calling for the new mnemonic to include Ceres, Haumea, Makemake and Eris. So in order, I think that would be: M V E M J S U N C P H M E Ceres is between Mars and Jupiter. So that would be MVEMCJSUNPHME. And I’m not sure of the order of H, M, and E. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/19 "2012-03-26T04:41:25Z")
Here’s an attempt. “My very energetic mother cooks juicy sauces now. Pity her meal eaters!” ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610/20 "2012-03-26T04:44:30Z")
I learned it as: “My Very Elderly Mother Just Shot Uncle Ned’s Parrot” A quick adjustment would make it homocide rather than bird-murder. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-better-nmemonic-for-planetary-bodies-in-the-solar-system/616610.md?page=2)