The planets, in order from the Sun
Eight planets. Since 2006 the International Astronomical Union counts Pluto as a dwarf planet, not a planet.
Eight names in order is a good first list. It is short enough to learn in one sitting, and it opens the door to the rest of the night sky: which worlds are rocky, which are giants, and how far the Sun's family reaches.
Eight items is about two chunks of four, and the planets split that way on their own: four small rocky planets, then four giants. Learn the inner four, then the outer four. A first-letter sentence (a mnemonic) holds the order: My Very Eager Mouse Jumped Straight Up Nightly. Try making your own sentence, since a silly picture you made yourself sticks best.
Encode make it vivid → Space bring it back on day 1, 3, 7, 21 → Retrieve pull it from your head. From the infographic Remember It on Purpose.
The planets, in order from the Sun
| From the Sun | Planet | Kind | Remember it by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercury | rocky | Smallest planet, and closest to the Sun |
| 2 | Venus | rocky | Hottest planet, under thick clouds |
| 3 | Earth | rocky | The only world known to have life |
| 4 | Mars | rocky | The red planet, colored by iron oxide (rust) in its dust |
| 5 | Jupiter | gas giant | Largest planet, with the Great Red Spot storm |
| 6 | Saturn | gas giant | Famous for its bright rings of ice and rock |
| 7 | Uranus | ice giant | Spins tipped on its side |
| 8 | Neptune | ice giant | Farthest planet, with the fastest winds |
Eight items is about two chunks of four, and the planets split that way on their own: four small rocky planets, then four giants. Learn the inner four, then the outer four. A first-letter sentence (a mnemonic) holds the order: My Very Eager Mouse Jumped Straight Up Nightly. Try making your own sentence, since a silly picture you made yourself sticks best. · teddyrookbook.com/memory/challenges/planets/
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Checked October 30, 2026. Progress is kept on this device only (per learner). More lists: all memory challenges · memory games.