A Complete Guide to the Planetary Symbols in Astrology

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Professional astrologer Steve Judd explains the history & origins of the symbols of the planets

Co-authored by Steve Judd and Devin McSween

Last Updated: April 27, 2026 Fact Checked

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• The Major Planet Symbols
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• Minor Planet Symbols
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• Origins & History
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• How are the symbols used?
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• Video

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Each planet in our solar system has a unique symbol, commonly used in astrology and astronomy. Whether you want to learn more about your horoscope or the planets in space, we’ve got you covered. In an exclusive interview with wikiHow, a professional astrologer explained each planet’s symbol and what they mean. We’ll also go over the symbols for dwarf planets and asteroids, explain where these symbols come from, and how they’re used. Keep reading to learn more!

Symbols of the Planets

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Professional astrologer Steve Judd says planetary symbols are universal because they transcend spoken language. The Ancient Greeks and Romans gave each classical planet a symbol based on the characteristics of the deity it is named after. For instance, the symbol for Mercury is based on the god’s winged staff.

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Section 1 of 4:

The Major Planet Symbols

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   Sun: ☉ While the sun is technically a star, it has a planetary symbol in both astronomy and astrology. Its circular shape matches the sun’s spherical nature. Historically, the symbol was the alchemical symbol for gold (the Latin name for gold, aurum, may come from aurora, meaning “dawn”). Some also believe that the sun’s symbol represents the shield of Apollo, who is regarded as the god of the sun in Roman and Greek mythology.

   • Unicode: U+2609
   • Associated day: Sunday
   • Associated metal: Gold

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Steve Judd is a globally recognized professional astrologer with over 4 decades of experience.
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   Mercury: ☿ The Mercury planet symbol is meant to represent Mercury, the Roman messenger god of merchants, travelers, communication, and thieves. The symbol may refer to his caduceus, a winged staff entwined with snakes, or his winged cap.

   • Unicode: U+263F
   • Associated day: Wednesday
   • Associated metal: Mercury (quicksilver)
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   Venus: ♀ The Venus planet symbol represents the Roman goddess Venus, who rules over love, beauty, desire, and fertility. The symbol is believed to represent the goddess’ mirror, due to her beautiful appearance and association with lovely things. The symbol might also be derived from the way ancient Greeks abbreviated Venus’ name.

   • Unicode: U+2640
   • Associated day: Friday
   • Associated metal: Copper
   • Note: Venus’ planetary symbol is also the symbol for “female.” This is likely due to the goddess’ association with femininity, says Astrologer Lisa Stardust.
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   Earth: ⊕ Earth’s symbol is denoted by a circle, mirroring Earth’s spherical shape, with a cross in the center that splits it into four quadrants. It’s thought that these four sections represent the four corners of the world or the four directions on a compass: north, south, east, and west.

   • Unicode: U+1F728
   • Associated day: None (modern symbol)
   • Associated metal: None (modern symbol)
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   Moon: ☾ The moon is technically not a planet, as it orbits the Earth and not the sun, but it also has a symbol in astronomy and astrology. It’s a simple crescent shape, which has been used to symbolize the moon since ancient times (either the waning or waxing crescent in the lunar cycle). The symbol is often associated with Luna or Selene, the personification of the moon, and Diana or Artemis, the goddess of the moon and the hunt, in Roman and Greek mythology.

   • Unicode: U+263E
   • Associated day: Monday
   • Associated metal: Silver
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   Mars: ♂ Mars’ planetary symbol is meant to symbolize Mars, the Roman god of war, agriculture, and fertility (and, the protector of Rome). Fittingly, the planet’s symbol is believed to represent the god’s shield and spear that he carried to battle.

   • Unicode: U+2642
   • Associated day: Tuesday
   • Associated metal: Iron
   • Note: Mars’ planetary symbol is also the symbol for “male.” Stardust says that this is likely because of the god’s association with war and masculinity.
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   Jupiter: ♃ The symbol for Jupiter is based on Jupiter (also called Jove), the Roman god of the sky, and the king of all the gods. It’s likely derived from a stylized version of the Greek “Z,” which comes from Zeus, Jupiter’s counterpart in Greek mythology. It might also represent a thunderbolt or eagle, which are common symbols of the god.

   • Unicode: U+2643
   • Associated day: Thursday
   • Associated metal: Tin
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   Saturn: ♄ The symbol for the planet Saturn stems from Saturn, the Roman god of time, agriculture, and harvest. It's thought that the symbol represents the god’s curved sickle or scythe. It’s also possible that the symbol is an abbreviation of the Greek letters kappa and rho, which are the first letters of Kronos, Saturn’s counterpart in Greek mythology.

   • Unicode: U+2644
   • Associated day: Saturday
   • Associated metal: Lead
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   Uranus: ⛢ or ♅ Uranus wasn’t discovered until 1781, so its symbol doesn’t have ancient origins. However, it does have two common symbols! ⛢ is primarily used in astronomy and is based on the symbol for platinum, which combines the symbols for the Sun (gold) and Mars (iron). ♅ is primarily used in astrology, and features a prominent “H,” which celebrates William Herschel, who discovered Uranus.

   • In astrology, Uranus’ symbol (♅) is also believed to be based on Uranus, the Greek personification of the sky and heavens.
   • Unicode: U+26E2 and U+2645
   • Associated day: None (modern symbol)
   • Associated metal: None (modern symbol)
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    Neptune: ♆ Neptune was also a modern discovery, so its symbol doesn’t have ancient origins, either. However, its symbol follows the same conventions as the other planets. The symbol for Neptune is based on Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, and represents his trident.

    • Unicode: U+2646
    • Associated day: None (modern symbol)
    • Associated metal: None (modern symbol)
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    Pluto: ♇ or ⯓ Like Uranus, Pluto is a modern discovery that has two symbols. The ♇ symbol is primarily used in astronomy and is a combination of the letters PL, which are the initials of Percival Lowell, who discovered the planet. The ⯓ symbol is primarily used in astrology and is based on Pluto, the Roman god of death and ruler of the underworld. It’s based on the god’s trident, which is a 2-pronged staff.

    • Unicode: U+2647 and U+2BD3
    • Associated day: None (modern symbol)
    • Associated metal: None (modern symbol)
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Section 2 of 4:

Minor Planet Symbols

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1. 
   Besides the major planets in our solar system, there are also symbols for dwarf planets and large asteroids. Like the symbols for the planets, these symbols are largely based on the Roman and Greek gods that bear the same name. Here are some of the most common dwarf planet and asteroid symbols:

   • Ceres: A dwarf planet named after Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, and based on her scythe.
   • Eris: A dwarf planet named after Eris, the Greek goddess of strife and discord, and is based on the hand of Eris.
   • Sedna: A dwarf planet named after Sedna, the goddess of the sea in Inuit religion, and is based on the Inuit script of her name.
   • Haumea: A dwarf planet named after Haumea, the Hawaiian goddess of childbirth and fertility, and is based on Hawaiian script meaning “childbirth.”
   • Pallas: An asteroid named after Athena, the Greek goddess of warfare and wisdom, and based on her spear.
   • Juno: An asteroid named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, and likely based on her scepter.
   • Vesta: An asteroid named after Vesta, the Roman goddess of the hearth and home, and is based on her hearth and sacred fire.
   • Astraea: An asteroid named after Astraea, the Greek goddess of justice, and the scales are one of her prominent symbols.
   • Hebe: An asteroid named after Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth, and is based on her role as the cup-bearer for the gods.
   • Iris: An asteroid named after Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow.
   • Flora: An asteroid named after Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and gardens.
   • Metis: An asteroid named after Metis, the Greek goddess of wisdom and thought, and is likely based on her all-seeing and all-knowing nature.
   • Hygiea: An asteroid named after Hygiea, the Greek goddess of health, and is based on the Rod of Asclepius, which symbolizes medicine and healthcare.
   • Parthenope: An asteroid named after Parthenope, a siren in Greek mythology. The symbol is likely based on her aquatic and musical nature.
   • Victoria: An asteroid named after Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, and based on her crown of laurel leaves.
   • Egeria: An asteroid named after Egeria, a nymph in Roman mythology. The symbol represents a buckler (shield), and may represent Egeria’s role in the founding of Rome.
   • Irene: An asteroid named after Irene, the Greek goddess of peace.
   • Eunomia: An asteroid named after Eunomia, the Greek goddess of law and order, is based on her association with lawful behavior in marriage.
   • Psyche: An asteroid named after Psyche, a Roman goddess and wife of Cupid, who’s often depicted with butterfly wings.
   • Thetis: An asteroid named after Thetis, a sea nymph in Greek mythology, and likely based on her aquatic nature.
   • Melpomene: An asteroid named after Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy in Greek mythology, and is based on her dagger.
   • Fortuna: An asteroid named after Fortuna, the Roman goddess of luck, and is based on her wheel of fortune.
   • Proserpina: An asteroid named after Proserpina, the Roman goddess of agriculture and spring, and Queen of the underworld. It is based on the pomegranate she eats that keeps her in the underworld.
   • Bellona: An asteroid named after Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, and is based on her whip and spear.
   • Amphitrite: An asteroid named Amphitrite, the Greek goddess of the sea, is based on her shell.
   • Leukothea: An asteroid named after Leukothea, a Greek goddess of the sea. The lighthouse symbolizes her role as a protector of sailors.
   • Fides: An asteroid named after Fides, the Roman goddess of trust and faith.

Section 3 of 4:

Origins and History of Planet Symbols

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1. 1
   The classical planet symbols come from Ancient Greece and Rome. The ancient Greeks and Romans studied the stars and were able to determine that there were several “wandering stars” (now called planets) in the sky: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. They decided to name the planets based on the characteristics that they shared with their major gods, and gave them symbols to match (as well as the sun and the moon).

   • For instance, Mercury (the planet) has a quick orbit around the sun, and Mercury/Hermes (the god) is the swift messenger. Mars (the planet) is a red, fiery color, and Mars/Ares is known as the god of war.
   • Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are often called the “classical planets,” as they’ve been observed since ancient times.
   • Judd says all astrological symbols represent planetary names. The symbols are made from some combination of a circle, dot, crescent, cross, and line, and these shapes have esoteric meanings.
     • “In a nutshell, the dot represents unity, the circle represents soul, the crescent represents spirit, the cross represents matter, and the line connects things like soul with spirit or matter with individuality,” he continues.
   • Note: Earth’s symbol likely has ancient origins, too. However, it wasn’t a “classical planet.” At the time, Earth wasn’t considered a planet as it was believed to be the center of the universe!
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   Many of the ancient symbols were updated in the 1600s. The planetary symbols for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were used throughout history and largely remained the same. However, around the 1600s (CE), the symbols for Mercury, Venus, and Saturn had a horizontal line added to their vertical lines, forming a cross. It's thought that this was done to “Christianize” the symbols since they are based on pagan/mythological gods.
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   The symbols for Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were created post-1700s. The ancient Greeks and Romans didn’t know about Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, as these planets aren’t observable without a telescope. So, they didn’t get symbols until their respective discoveries in 1781, 1846, and 1930. They were named after mythological gods to follow in the ancient Greeks’ and Romans’ footsteps, and also given symbols that characterized the gods.
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Section 4 of 4:

How are planet symbols used?

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1. 1
   In astronomy Historically, astronomers used the planetary symbols to describe the planets when talking about them in research papers and educational texts and media. While they’re still sometimes used today, they’re less common in academic publications.

   • The International Astronomical Union (IAU), which is an international organization of astronomers, recommends that astronomers not use the planetary symbols in research papers and other scientific publications.
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   In astrology The planet symbols have long been used in astrology to represent the planets' positions in your astrological birth chart. In astrology, each planet is associated with certain traits that are believed to influence your personality and life. Each planet also governs a specific zodiac sign.

   • Judd says these symbols allow people who don’t speak the same language to communicate about astrology. “I can speak with astrologers all over the world using these astrological symbols and they will understand me, even if we can't communicate using what passes for normal language,” he explains.
   • Psychic astrologer Stina Garbis explains that Mercury is your planet of thought, Venus is how you love others, Mars is how you get angry, Jupiter is luck and work, Saturn is your problems and how you overcome them, Uranus is your creativity (and what you repress), Neptune is deep emotions, and Pluto is what you need to expose.
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   Historical uses In ancient and early modern times, the classical planets were associated with the days of the week. So, the planet symbols were often used in calendars to designate the days of the week. The classical planet symbols were also used in ancient alchemy (early chemistry), as the planets were associated with the known metals of the time: gold, silver, quicksilver, copper, iron, tin, and lead.

   • The names for the days of the week are also based on the planets! For instance, in most Romance languages like French, Spanish, and Italian: Sunday means “day of the sun,” Monday means “day of the moon,” Tuesday means “day of Mars,” Wednesday means “day of Mercury,” Thursday means “day of Jupiter,” Friday means “day of Venus,” and Saturday means “day of Saturn.”
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