<P> In 2007, the National Geographic Society sponsored a contest for a new mnemonic of MVEMCJSUNPE, incorporating the then eleven known planets and dwarf planets, including Eris, Ceres, and the newly demoted Pluto . On February 22, 2008, My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants, coined by 10 - year - old Maryn Smith of Great Falls, Montana, was announced as the winner . The phrase was featured in the song 11 Planets by Grammy - nominated singer and songwriter Lisa Loeb and in the book 11 Planets: A New View of the Solar System by David Aguilar (ISBN 978 - 1426302367). </P> <P> Since the National Geographic competition, two additional bodies were designated as dwarf planets, Makemake and Haumea, on July 11 and September 17, 2008 respectively . A 2015 New York Times article suggested some mnemonics including, "My Very Educated Mother Cannot Just Serve Us Nine Pizzas--Hundreds May Eat!" </P> <P> Longer mnemonics will be required in the future, if more of the possible dwarf planets are recognised as such by the IAU . However, at some point enthusiasm for new mnemonics will wane as the number of dwarf planets exceeds the number that people will want to learn . (It is estimated that there may be 200 dwarf planets .) </P>

My very exciting magic carpet just sailed under nine palace elephants