Remembering the Planets: Exploring the "My Very Educated Mother" Mnemonic and Beyond
For generations, learning the order of the planets in our solar system has been aided by clever mnemonics. These memory tools, often taking the form of catchy phrases, help us recall information in a specific sequence. One of the most enduring and adaptable mnemonics is the "My Very Educated Mother" phrase, which has evolved alongside our understanding of the solar system.
The Power of Planetary Mnemonics
A planetary mnemonic is a phrase designed to help remember the planets and dwarf planets of the Solar System, with the order of words corresponding to increasing sidereal periods of the bodies. Astronomy is one of the many sciences that lends itself well to the use of mnemonics (memory aids) because there are so many celestial bodies to know and learn about. This is a technique used to help remember something using verbal or visual cues.
One simple visual mnemonic is to hold out both hands side-by-side with thumbs in the same direction (typically left-hand facing palm down, and right-hand palm up). The fingers of hand with palm down represent the terrestrial planets where the left pinkie represents Mercury and its thumb represents the asteroid belt, including Ceres.
The Classic Nine-Planet Mnemonic
Before 2006, when Pluto was still considered a planet, the most common mnemonic was: "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto). Another version was "Men Very Easily Make Jugs Serve Useful Needs, Perhaps". The structure of this sentence suggests that it may have originated before Pluto's discovery. In Science class, the colors of the spectrum can be remembered with ROY G BIV (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).
Adapting to a Changing Solar System
In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet, leading to a need for updated mnemonics. This change sparked creativity as people sought new ways to remember the eight recognized planets.
Read also: Mnemonic Devices
When Pluto's significance was changed to dwarf planet, mnemonics could no longer include the final "P". I was taught how to remember the planets using the mnemonic ‘My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas’. With Pluto now excluded, it’s fun to come up with some new mnemonics.
The Rise of "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos"
In light of Pluto's demotion, Phyllis Lugger, professor of astronomy at Indiana University, suggested the following modification to the common mnemonic for the nine planets: "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos". This quickly became a popular alternative.
Other Creative Adaptations
The removal of Pluto from the list of planets spurred many creative minds to come up with new mnemonics. Some examples include:
- My Violet Emu Munched Jam Sandwiches Until Night
- My Very Exhausting Mother Just Showed Up Nagging
- My Violin Emits Musical Jams So Utterly Nice
- My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming
- My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Noodles
One student chose to refer to the Earth as Terra, resulting in the mnemonic: "Mother Very Thoughtfully Made a Jelly Sandwich Under No Protest".
Incorporating Dwarf Planets
In 2007, the National Geographic Society sponsored a contest for a new mnemonic of MVEMCJSUNPE, incorporating the then-eleven known planets and dwarf planets, including Eris, Ceres, and the newly demoted Pluto. Since the National Geographic competition, two additional bodies were designated as dwarf planets, Makemake and Haumea, on July 11 and September 17, 2008 respectively.
Read also: Mnemonics for the Solar System
Longer mnemonics will be required in the future, if more of the possible dwarf planets are recognized as such by the IAU. Adding Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris - but where’s Sedna?
Mnemonics in Other Languages
Mnemonics aren't limited to English. For example, a German mnemonic is: "Mein Vater erklärt mir jeden Sonntag unsere neun Planeten" ("My father explains to me every Sunday our nine planets.")
Beyond Planets: Other Astronomical Mnemonics
Mnemonics aren't just for planets. They can be used to remember other astronomical information, such as the Galilean moons of Jupiter (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto).
The Solar System's Broader Context
It’s the Sun and everything that orbits the Sun, which can be subdivided into the six categories Sun, Rocky Inner Planets, Asteroids, Gas Giants, Kuiper Belt Objects, and Oort Cloud.
The Visual Mnemonic
A representation of the above method with the left hand representing the terrestrial planets and the right hand, with palm turned upward, is representing the giant planets along with TNOsA planetary mnemonic refers to a phrase created to remember the planets and dwarf planets of the Solar System, with the order of words corresponding to increasing sidereal periods of the bodies.
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