Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
NASA and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) have released a new coloring book, “Journey Through the Heliosphere: The Sun-Earth System in Color,” designed to teach learners about the Sun and its impact on Earth through art and science. The 28-page, 11"x14" book features coloring pages and facts across ten heliophysics themes, including the Sun’s magnetic field, solar wind, auroras, and eclipses, aimed at students in grades 6-12 and adults.
The book incorporates solar vocabulary from seven Indigenous languages of Alaska, along with a glossary of heliophysics terms. It connects users to an online pronunciation guide for Indigenous terms, promoting cultural learning and linguistic diversity.
The project involved staff from NASA, UAF’s International Arctic Research Center and Geophysical Institute, Oregon State University, and outreach and design teams over two years. Lynda McGilvary from UAF’s education outreach team said the book blends art, science, and cultural perspectives to increase heliophysics literacy in the U.S.
The idea originated from NASA’s Heliophysics Education Activation Team (HEAT), which worked with UAF members to make complex heliophysics concepts accessible. Thirteen Alaska Native language speakers contributed cultural knowledge about the Sun to the book’s content.
McGilvary emphasized the longstanding NASA-UAF partnership, describing the coloring book as a reflection of their combined scientific expertise and community connections in Alaska. She hopes the book inspires interest in Alaska’s linguistic diversity and heritage languages, encouraging classroom and community discussions beyond science topics.