
Do you love making art and using your imagination? So do we! Every NASA mission starts with a creative idea about how to explore something in a new way.
The art challenge:
In this new activity, we'd like to challenge young explorers to think about and draw a space-related situation each month. And after the month is over, we'll select a few imaginative drawings to be featured on the NASA Space Place website!
So, get ready to exercise that creative brain of yours! Here's what you'll need:
- Paper
- Art supplies (pencils, markers, crayons, paints – whatever you like to use)
- A grownup helper with a camera or scanner and access to email
Space Place art challenge prompt:
Get ready: It’s time for an annular solar eclipse!
For information on how to safely view a solar eclipse, visit the NASA Solar Eclipse safety page.
On Oct. 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America. This eclipse will be visible for millions of people in the Western Hemisphere.
What is an annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse looks like a ring of light around the Moon. It happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, but when the Moon is at or near its farthest point from Earth. This means that the Moon appears smaller than the Sun and does not completely cover the Sun.

An annular solar eclipse provides us with an opportunity to observe the Sun in a unique way. However, scientists are always watching our closest star!
Activity on the Sun’s surface creates a type of weather called space weather. Space weather is serious stuff–it can even damage satellites and cause electrical blackouts on Earth!
But don’t worry: we have instruments monitoring the Sun and space weather. They provide information that helps scientists to send alerts that can help prevent any damage. (Learn more about how scientists study space weather during solar eclipses on this NOAA annular eclipse page!)
Some of these helpful instruments are on board NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) R-series, which orbits 22,000 miles above Earth!
This month’s prompt: Imagine you’re a scientist in charge of creating a space weather report for people planning to view the upcoming eclipse. How would you let people know it’s a calm day for the Sun? How would you let them know there’s a solar storm? Draw what your space weather report would look like!
Submit your artwork to Space Place’s Art Challenge between 9/28/23 and 10/22/23. Selected art submissions will appear on the website in late October.
How to submit your art:
Once you've gotten your ideas on the page, have a grownup take a photo or scan of the drawing and email the following to NASAKidsArt@jpl.nasa.gov:
- Picture of drawing
- First name of artist
- Age of artist
- Completed release form (download here)*
That's it! Have fun creating and we can't wait to see your drawings!
This Month's Art Challenge Selections
Submit a poem about Earth!

Dimitra, 4

Panagiota, 8

Aayansh, 8

Aiden, 8

Parineeka, 11

Dravn, 7
* AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE FOR PHOTOS, AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO RECORDINGS OF, AND/OR ARTWORK FROM A MINOR CHILD
I hereby grant to the California Institute of Technology (Institute) and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) the right to make, use, create derivative works and/or display:
- photos, video and/or audio tape recordings of, my Child and/or
- artwork (in any media, including drawings, photos, music and video creations) created by my Child and submitted to JPL and/or
in any manner or form, and for any lawful purpose at any time. I also grant the Institute to use my Child's name associated with such photos, recordings of my Child or with his/her artwork. I understand that my Child may be photographed and/or video or audio taped verbatim and that the Institute may allow persons external to the Institute to view the pictures or recordings in part or in their entirety. I also understand that any artwork submitted by my Child to the Institute for the Project may be edited, reproduced or displayed publicly at the Institute's discretion. I am fully aware and agree that such use of my Child's image or artwork and name may include posting on publicly available internet sites, including JPL sites and other publicly viewable social media sites. I waive any right that I may have to review or approve of any finished products, or the uses to which such products may be applied. I release and discharge the Institute, its employees, sponsors, and subcontractors from any liability to me by virtue of any representation that may occur in the creation, editing or use of said photos and/or video or audio tape recordings or the editing or use of my Child's artwork.