What do the following words have in common?

1. ME

2. US

3. EAR

4. MA

5. PIT

6. TURN

7. RAN

8. TUNE

 

HINTS:

a. Each word is hidden in a longer one.

b. The longer words are names.

c. They are listed according to a certain order. 

d. TO was once on the list.

Answers:

 

Each clue word appears in the name of a planet - listed in order from closest to farthest away from the sun: 

 

1. MErcury

2. venUS

3. EARth

4. MArs

5. juPITer

6. saTURN

7. uRANus

8. nepTUNE

 

(9. TO - pluTO)