Eighth planet from the sun nyt crossword clue

The clue "Eighth planet from the sun" refers to **Neptune**. Let's break down this answer: 1. **Knowledge of the Solar System**: Knowing the order of planets from the sun is critical. The planets in our solar system, in order from the sun, are: 1. Mercury 2. Venus 3. Earth 4. Mars 5. Jupiter 6. Saturn 7. Uranus 8. **Neptune** 2. **Letter Count**: "Neptune" is a 7-letter word, which fits nicely in most crossword grids, as well as satisfies this specific clue. 3. **Crossword Patterns**: Check if there are any intersecting words which can help confirm the answer further. If you can see letters from other answers in the grid that match with "N", "E", "P", "T", "U", "N", "E", it will increase confidence in this answer. ### Crossword Techniques: - **Knowledge Base**: Regularly review common knowledge of science, literature, history, and pop culture as many clues will draw from these areas. - **Fill in Known Answers**: If you know the answer to another clue that intersects with your current clue, put that in to help narrow down possibilities. - **Use of Wordplay**: Be aware of puns or metaphors in clues; sometimes they might lead you astray or give additional hints. - **Look for Common Abbreviations**: Many crossword puzzles use common abbreviations, so understanding certain common terms (like "Lt." for Lieutenant, "St." for Street, etc.) can help. - **Practice and Familiarity**: The more puzzles you solve, the more familiar you become with the common themes and words used in crossword clues. In this case, being familiar with the planets in our solar system directly led to quickly deducing the correct answer. Enjoy your crossword solving!