Symbols of the Planets

The symbols of the planets are used as a kind of shorthand by astronomers. The symbols for the sun and moon are probably based on the symbols for gold and silver. Mercury, the mythological messenger of the gods, is a stylized winged helmet. Venus and Mars are symbolized by the traditional signs for male and female—mirror and arrow. Jupiter is represented by a lightning bolt, and Saturn (called Kronos by the Greeks) by a stylized K. The symbol for Uranus was arbitrarily chosen. Neptune is represented by the mythological sea god’s trident. Pluto is symbolized by the first two letters of its name.

Enlarge symbols and transfer them to iron-on patches or use them for a mobile, for T-shirt design, or for anything else you would like.