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{{Short description|Phrase used to remember the planets of the Solar System}}
[[File:Solar System Hand Mnemonic.png|thumb|right|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 [[Trans-Neptunian object|TNO]]s]]A '''planetary mnemonic''' refers to a phrase created to remember the [[planet]]s and [[dwarf planets]] of the [[Solar System]], with the order of words corresponding to increasing [[orbital period|sidereal periods]] of the bodies. 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 (dwarf planet)|Ceres]]. The other hand represents the [[giant planet]]s, with its thumb representing [[trans-Neptunian object]]s, including [[Pluto]].

==Nine planets==
Before 2006, [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]], [[Venus]], [[Earth]], [[Mars]], [[Jupiter]], [[Saturn]], [[Uranus]], [[Neptune]], and [[Pluto]] were considered as planets. Below is a partial list of these [[mnemonics]]:

* "Men Very Easily Make Jugs Serve Useful Needs, Perhaps" – The structure of this sentence, which is current in the 1950s, suggests that it may have originated before Pluto's discovery. It can easily be trimmed back to reflect Pluto's demotion to [[dwarf planet]]. It's also the best-known mnemonic where the first two letters of 'Men' and 'Make' help to differentiate Mercury from Mars.
* "My Very Elegant Mother Just Sat Upon Nine Porcupines"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocemabra.com/roger/speech9.html|title=My Very Elegant Mother Just Sat Upon Nine Porcupines|website=www.rocemabra.com|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref>
* "Mary's violet eyes make Johnnie stay up nights pondering"<ref name="sandt080229">{{cite news |url=http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/16078757.html |title=Of Planets and Palace Elephants |work=SkyandTelescope.com |first=Kelly |last=Beatty |date=2008-02-28 |access-date=2008-09-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202121109/http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/16078757.html |archive-date=2013-02-02 }}</ref>

With the [[IAU]]'s [[2006 definition of planet]] which reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet, along with [[Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres]] and [[Eris (dwarf planet)|Eris]], these mnemonics became obsolete.

==Eight planets==
When Pluto's significance was changed to [[dwarf planet]], mnemonics could no longer include the final "P". The first notable suggestion came from Kyle Sullivan of [[Lumberton, Mississippi]], USA, whose mnemonic was published in the Jan. 2007 issue of ''Astronomy'' magazine: "My Violent Evil Monster Just Scared Us Nuts".<ref>{{cite web |title=Physics 110 Astronomy Mnemonics |publisher=www.csub.edu/Physics |url=http://www.csub.edu/Physics/phys110/Mnemonics.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118062722/http://www.csub.edu/Physics/phys110/Mnemonics.html |archive-date=2012-01-18 }}</ref> In August 2006, for the eight planets recognized under the new definition,<ref>{{Cite web|title = International Astronomical Union, iau0603 -- Press Release, IAU 2006 General Assembly: Result of the IAU Resolution votes, 24 August 2006|url = http://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau0603/|access-date = 2016-01-30}}</ref> 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". She proposed this mnemonic to [[Owen Gingerich]], Chair of the [[International Astronomical Union]] (IAU) Planet Definition Committee and published the mnemonic in the [[American Astronomical Society]] Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy Bulletin Board on August 25, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.aas.org/cswa/bulletin.board/2006/08.25.06.html|title = American Astronomical Society Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy Bulletin Board, August 25, 2006|access-date = 2016-01-30|archive-date = 2016-05-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160507142220/http://www.aas.org/cswa/bulletin.board/2006/08.25.06.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> It also appeared in Indiana University's IU News Room Star Trak on August 30, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news-archive/3955.html|title = Indiana University, IU News Room, Star Trak, August 30, 2006|access-date = 2016-01-30}}</ref> This mnemonic is used by the IAU on their website for the public.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.iau.org/public/themes/pluto/|title = Pluto and the Developing Landscape of Our Solar System, Questions and Answers|access-date = 2016-01-30|website = International Astronomical Union, IAU for the Public}}</ref>

Others angry at the IAU's decision to "demote" Pluto composed sarcastic mnemonics in protest:

* "Many Very Educated Men Justify Stealing Unique Ninth" – found in [[Schott's Miscellany]] by [[Ben Schott]].<ref name="SM">{{cite book |last= Schott|first= Ben|author-link= Ben Schott |title= Schott's Miscellany 2009 |publisher= Bloomsbury USA|location= New York |date= 2008 |pages= 77 |isbn= 978-1-59691-382-0}}</ref>
* "Many Very Educated Men Just Screwed Up Nature" – this mnemonic is mentioned by [[Michael E. Brown|Mike Brown]], who discovered [[Eris (dwarf planet)|Eris]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Julia Sweeney and Michael E. Brown|publisher=Armand Hammer|url=http://www.pluggd.tv/audio/channels/kcet_podcast__hammer_conversations/episodes/2h10l|date=2007|access-date=2009-12-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006182705/http://www.pluggd.tv/audio/channels/kcet_podcast__hammer_conversations/episodes/2h10l|archive-date=2008-10-06}}</ref>
* Another mnemonic which was changed from 9 to 8 planets was , "Most Very Elderly Men Just Slept Under Newspapers".{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} Slightly risque versions include, "Mary's 'Virgin' Explanation Made Joseph Suspect Upstairs Neighbor".<ref>{{cite web|title=XKCD Presents: Some New Science Mnemonics|url=https://xkcd.com/992/}}</ref>

==Eleven planets and 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. On February 22, 2008, "My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants", coined by 10-year-old Maryn Smith of [[Great Falls, Montana]], was announced as the winner.<ref name="ngc080229">{{cite web |url=https://nationalgeographicpartners.com/press/?pageID=pressReleases_detail&siteID=1&cid=1203698789748 |title=National Geographic Children's Books Announces Winner of New Planetary Mnemonic |access-date=2008-02-29 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306035112/http://press.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/index.jsp?pageID=pressReleases_detail&siteID=1&cid=1203698789748 |archive-date=March 6, 2008 }}</ref> The phrase was featured in the song ''11 Planets'' by [[Grammy Award|Grammy-nominated]] singer and songwriter [[Lisa Loeb]] and in the book ''11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System'' by David Aguilar ({{ISBN|978-1426302367}}).<ref name="ngk080923">{{Cite news |title=Planet Song |work=National Geographic |url=http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Stories/SpaceScience/Planet-song |access-date=September 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224110814/http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/spacescience/planet-song/ |archive-date=February 24, 2012}}</ref>

==Thirteen planets and dwarf planets==
Since the National Geographic competition, two additional bodies were designated as dwarf planets, [[Makemake (dwarf planet)|Makemake]] and [[Haumea (dwarf planet)|Haumea]], on July 11 and September 17, 2008 respectively. A 2015 ''New York Times'' article suggested some mnemonics including, "My Very Educated Mother Cannot Just Serve Us Nine Pizzas—Hundreds May Eat!"<ref name="MyUser_The_New_York_Times_June_20_2015c">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/20/science/a-new-planet-mnemonic-pluto-dwarf-planets.html?_r=0 |title=My Very Educated Readers, Please Write Us a New Planet Mnemonic |newspaper=The New York Times |date= January 20, 2015 |access-date= June 20, 2015}}</ref>

Longer mnemonics will be required in the future, if more of the [[list of possible dwarf planets|possible dwarf planets]] are recognized as such by the IAU. However, at some point enthusiasm for new mnemonics will wane as the number of dwarf planets exceeds the number that people will want to learn (it is estimated that there may be up to 200 dwarf planets).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-08 |title=Our Solar System has 127 probable planets and 500+ possibles {{!}} NextBigFuture.com |url=https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2018/09/our-solar-system-has-127-additional-probable-planet-candidates-and-500-possibles.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lists of astronomical objects]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Science mnemonics}}
{{Solar System}}
{{Portal bar|Stars|Outer space|Science}}

[[Category:Science mnemonics]]
[[Category:Planets of the Solar System|Mnemonic]]
[[Category:Pluto's planethood|Mnemonic]]
[[Category:Definition of planet|Mnemonic]]
[[Category:Solar System]]

Planetary mnemonic - Revision history

OpenDEM 1: 1 revision imported from :wikipedia:en:Planetary_mnemonic

wikipedia:en>John of Reading: Reverted 1 edit by Jerren Malven Lee (talk): No source given