In the vast universe of memory enhancement techniques, the mnemonic device shines as a uniquely brilliant tool, often characterized by its inherent absurdity. When NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft sent back captivating images of Pluto, after a nine-year, three-billion-mile journey to this “icy dwarf planet,” it sparked a nostalgic thought. Decades after my own elementary school lessons on the solar system, and despite countless advancements in planetary science, the primary method for recalling the order of our planets remains: “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.”
The enduring power of this phrase, I believe, lies in its very ridiculousness.
I confess, I’ve never encountered a mnemonic I didn’t appreciate. These memory aids are incredibly useful for recalling even the most mundane facts or complex sequences. A mnemonic can be crafted spontaneously, tailored to your personal preferences. If only more aspects of life were this adaptable – politics, perhaps? Unlike the periodic table, multiplication facts drilled into our minds, or those relentlessly catchy songs used to memorize states alphabetically (oh, “Fifty Nifty United States,” you still echo in my thoughts), a mnemonic is not confined. It’s as flexible as your brain’s imaginative capacity. And we know how much your brain loves to think outside the box – or inside, for that matter.
The planetary mnemonic “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” is just one example of this versatile tool. Other common mnemonic types include visual mnemonics, spelling mnemonics (like the classic “i before e except after c”), and auditory mnemonics such as the alphabet song. Perhaps the most prevalent are word mnemonics, such as “Never Eat Shredded Wheat” for remembering North, East, South, West, or initial-letter mnemonics like “ROY G BIV” for the colors of the rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. Remember Roy? Possibly not, but the phrase sticks. “But isn’t ‘ROY G BIV’ an acronym?” you might be exclaiming. Indeed, it is. But an acronym is simply a specific type of mnemonic device.
Is there no limit to the mnemonic’s usefulness?
While mnemonics enjoy widespread use and admiration, the planet Pluto occupies a contrasting position in public perception. Long criticized for its diminutive size (smaller than Earth’s own moon) and reputation as a cold, dark world, Pluto faced the ultimate indignity in 2006. It was unceremoniously reclassified from planet to “dwarf planet.” The International Astronomical Union justified this decision by stating Pluto failed to meet all three criteria for planetary status: orbiting the Sun, possessing a spherical shape, and “clearing the neighborhood” around its orbit of other celestial bodies. This demotion was a significant blow to the icy world many of us had grown to know and appreciate. Pluto, it seemed, couldn’t catch a break.
One might think Uranus would be the celestial body drawing jokes. I mean, Uranus.
Then, remarkably, in July 2015, the images from New Horizons revealed a Pluto that National Geographic described as “stunningly alive.” Nitrogen glaciers, carbon monoxide and methane ice, and indications of active geological processes reignited discussions about Pluto’s planetary classification. And thankfully so, because “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine” just doesn’t sound quite right.
Alt Text: Image comparing the sizes of Earth, Moon, and Pluto, highlighting Pluto’s small size in discussions about its planetary status.
“My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” without the “Pizzas” is like the frustration of “A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y.” Why only “sometimes Y?” Yes, “y” is also a consonant, but let it fully join the vowel club. Don’t leave it in limbo, straddling two categories, like Pluto itself, or the ongoing debate about leggings as pants. Frankly, without Pluto firmly included, “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” needs a significant update. But perhaps it always did.
To begin, if your mother is truly “very educated,” wouldn’t she be engaged in more impactful pursuits than pizza service? Perhaps curing diseases or devising global water recycling solutions? And, leveraging her advanced education, wouldn’t she also recognize that nine pizzas are excessive? A balanced meal with salad and lean protein would be more appropriate. Regardless of perspective, “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” is undeniably a somewhat absurd mnemonic. Keeping Pluto in the planetary family – because planetary inclusivity is important – what superior mnemonics could we devise to assist in memorizing planetary order?
“May Vic’s Enthusiastic Monkey Just Served Us Nachos” – Nachos are arguably better than pizza. “Major Volcanoes Erupt Mightily, Just Spewing Unstoppable Noxious Plumes.” Perhaps a bit dramatic for young learners. “Martians Venture Everywhere, Making Jokes, Stealing Underpants, Navigating Past Saturn.” Yes, Martian underpants theft is a valid concern. Or consider, “Merry Vikings Eagerly Munch Jam Sandwiches Underneath Norwegian Pines.”
Alt Text: Artistic rendering of the New Horizons spacecraft approaching Pluto and Charon, emphasizing the mission that revolutionized our understanding of Pluto.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner:
“Merry Vikings Eagerly Munch Jam Sandwiches Underneath Norwegian Pines” is quite effective. It not only provides a memorable phrase for recalling planetary order but also subtly introduces a touch of whimsical Nordic imagery. You might someday command a Viking longship, but perhaps enjoy your jam sandwiches in the relative tranquility of a Norwegian pine forest.
Perhaps this is the deeper message of the cosmos. It’s not solely about how we remember essential information, but that we remember it and internalize the lessons it imparts. We can debate planetary classifications or the merits of specific mnemonics, but our time is finite (apologies, you won’t recover these past minutes). In this limited time, we should acquire knowledge, navigate life’s complexities, strive to be kind, remain humble even with our metaphorical Viking longships, and ultimately, face our mortality.
Whether “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” strikes you as ridiculous or helpful, if it aids your memory, continue using it. I may have presented a potential successor mnemonic for planetary order, but eons from now, when Viking longships traverse space, the crucial point will remain: do people know their planetary positions? It will be inconsequential whether they used “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” or “Merry Vikings Eagerly Munch Jam Sandwiches Underneath Norwegian Pines” to get there. The act of remembering, in its amusing and sometimes absurd forms, is the true achievement.
