Mnemonics - Astronomy

Astronomy

The sky is falling! Or at least things are really changing. I'm going to leave the old "planet order" mnemonics here, from when Pluto enjoyed planetary status. However, I'll also add the new mnemonics I received immediately after the International Astronomical Union decided that Pluto isn't a planet after all.

So - if you see a "P" in the mnemonic, it's an old one. No "P," it's a new one. Old ones are first, then the new ones. Thank you to everyone who contributed with such alacrity!

Men Very Easily Make Jugs Serve Useful Nocturnal Purposes: The first letter of each word gives you the first letter of the old list of planets, in order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.

You could also use:

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas

(contributed by my very own mother!

Adriana learned this mnemonic when she had a spelling list of all the planet names. The list also included "Milky Way Galaxy", so Adriana added to the mnemonic:

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas Made With Grapes!

Or, you could use the one sent to me by Brainsc@aol.com:

Mother Very Earnestly Made Jam Sandwiches Using No Peanuts Mayonaise or Glue

Or, try this one:

My Very Easy Method-Just Set Up Nine Planets

That one is brought to you by spartapl@prolog.net, whose son taught it to her.

And some more!

Mary's Violet Eyes Make John Stay Up Nights Praying

From csmith@magiccarpet.com... thanks!

Mary's Violet Eyes Make John Stay Up Nights, Period.

Thanks to munro@ben2.ucla.edu for that one.

My Very Energetic Mother Just Sat Upon (the) North Pole

Contributed by alian@zip.net.au.

My Very Elegant Mother Just Sat Upon Nine Porcupines

Submitted by kaz@MetaphaseTech.com, who learned it from his wife.

My very educated mother just sent us nine pickles.

My very educated mother just served us nine peas.

My very excellent memory just served up nine planets.

Those last three are from Darlene.K.Carlson.2@nd.edu, who adds that she likes the 1st one on your list because the first M word is MEn for MErcury and the second M word is MAke for MArs!

.Man very early made jars stand up nearly perpendicular.

This one is from mfh@mchsi.com, who sent one about the rainbow, too.

My Very Efficient Mother Just Served Us Pistachio Nuts

This one is from hclark1059@aol.com, who notes that it's useful for the times when Pluto is actually closer than Neptune.

Well, those were all wonderful and useful mnemonics, while they still pertained to commonly-agreed-upon science. Who knows what the mnemonics will look like soon, with Charon and Sedna and Xena hanging around! Here are the new mnemonics for the current listing of planets, in order:

"Many Very Extinct Maps Just Sold," Utters NASA

Ouch! Hilarious! Thanks, cvzdesign@yahoo.com.

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Naan

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nothing

All great ways to remember the eight (for now!) planets. It was fun to solicit these ideas today on the whiteboard at work.

Oh, Be A Fine Girl, Kiss Me Right Now, Sweetie !

Oh, Be A Fine Girl, Kiss Me Right Now! Smack!

For remembering the spectral classes of stars, hottest to coldest. These two are complements of sphipps@sas.upenn.edu. I get a chuckle out of the second one!

O, Be A Fine Guy, Kiss Me Right Now, Sweetheart!

O Big and Fierce Gorilla, Kill My Roommate Next Saturday

O Buy A Fine Green Kilo, Man

On Bad Afternoons, Fermented Grapes Keep Mrs. Richard Nixon Smiling

More on the same theme. For more information on spectral classes of stars, see http://www-astronomy.mps.ohio-state.edu/~pogge/Ast162/Unit1/sptypes.html, which notes that the RNS classes are no longer used, having been supplanted by the L and T types. For mnemonics on OBAFGKMLT, see http://astronomy.sussex.ac.uk/~loveday/starGal/obafgkmlt.html

"0 Lady Moon, your horns point toward the east;
Shine, be increased:
0 Lady Moon, your horns point toward the west;
Wane, be at rest."

A poem by Christina Rosetti, to tell whether the moon is waxing or waning.

If you appreciate this website, please consider giving a donation of a dollar or two to help keep it going.

Back to the Mnemonics Page

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[HOME]