NASA Launches Free Coloring Book in 7 Alaska Native Languages

Learning about the solar system just got more beautiful and inclusive thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The free coloring book, called "Journey Through the Heliosphere: The Sun-Earth System in Color," features 28 oversized pages exploring how the sun influences Earth. Topics include the sun's magnetic field, solar wind, auroras, and eclipses, all designed for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and curious adults.

What makes this project truly special is its celebration of Alaska's linguistic heritage. Thirteen Alaska Native language speakers contributed their cultural knowledge about the sun, translating solar terms into seven Indigenous languages.

The book includes an online pronunciation guide where users can hear fluent speakers correctly pronounce each translated word. Every scientific term also appears in an easy-to-understand glossary at the back.

NASA's Heliophysics Education Activation Team spent two years developing the project alongside researchers from Oregon State University and UAF. The goal was simple: make space science accessible to everyone by blending art, science, and cultural perspectives into something people can see, touch, and connect with.

Lynda McGilvary, who leads education outreach at UAF's Geophysical Institute, calls it "a labor of love." She hopes the book will spark classroom and community conversations about Alaska's important linguistic diversity.

The Ripple Effect

This coloring book does more than teach space science. It demonstrates how Indigenous knowledge systems and modern science can work together to create richer learning experiences for everyone.

McGilvary hopes readers will seek out and use other languages, especially heritage languages spoken by their friends and neighbors. The project honors decades of partnership between NASA and UAF, extending their collaboration beyond research into meaningful community engagement.

The book is available as a complete download or in individual sections, making it perfect for classrooms, families, or anyone who wants to explore the sun-Earth system while celebrating linguistic diversity. McGilvary says working with NASA's experts taught her "so much more about the Sun and our solar system."

One coloring page at a time, this project is increasing America's understanding of space while preserving precious cultural knowledge for future generations.