Do It Yourself Sun Prints

In May 2024, the Heliophysics Big Year theme is Visual Art. Use the Sun’s ultraviolet light to create art! Solar paper, also known as sun print paper, is coated with chemicals that react to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun. When exposed to UV light, the chemicals in the paper break apart and form new molecules, which changes the paper's color. Areas of the paper that are covered by objects don't react to the light and remain their original color, while the rest of the paper changes.

The Heliophysics Big Year is a global celebration of the Sun’s influence on Earth and the entire solar system. From Oct. 14, 2023, to Dec. 24, 2024, we are challenging you to participate in as many Sun-related activities as you can.

For each month from October 2023 to December 2024, the Heliophysics Big Year will celebrate under a theme, sharing opportunities to participate in many solar science events from watching eclipses to joining citizen science projects. During the Heliophysics Big Year, participation isn’t limited to science – NASA invites everyone to celebrate the Sun with activities including dance, fashion, sustainability, and more.