Galaxies in Motion: Turning Space Images into Visual Stories
What this project is really about
Have you ever looked at pictures of space and wondered what those bright colors and shapes really mean? In this creative project, you’ll work with real images of galaxies—huge collections of stars far beyond our own solar system—and learn how to turn what you see into your own visual art. With guidance from Prof. Raja Guha Thakurta, an astrophysicist at UC Santa Cruz, you’ll explore how scientists study galaxies using powerful telescopes like Hubble and James Webb. You’ll look closely at the shapes, colors, and patterns in galaxy photos and learn what they tell us about space. Then, you’ll use those ideas to create your own artwork that shows what a galaxy looks like, how it moves, or what story it tells. Here’s what you’ll create:1. Visual Art Piece: A drawing, digital design, painting, collage, or mixed media piece based on a galaxy or space concept.2. Story Behind the Art: A short explanation (300–500 words) of what the galaxy is, what inspired the design, and the science it’s connected to. 3. Space Art Showcase: Share your artwork and story with your school peer group in a space art showcase event at school! Here’s what you’ll learn: ● What galaxies are and how scientists study them using light and images. ● How to recognize shapes, colors, and patterns in space and what they mean. ● How to turn science ideas into creative visual stories.● How to talk about your ideas with others in a fun and confident way. You don’t need to be a science expert or an artist to join—just bring your curiosity and creativity. This is your chance to explore space and tell your own story through art!
The universe contains over two trillion galaxies — yet most people go their entire lives without truly engaging with this vastness. Space science remains locked away in technical language and complex data that few know how to read.
You will work with real telescope data and images of galaxies, learn how astronomers interpret what they see, and create a visual story — a data art piece, explainer video, or interactive exhibit — that makes the scale and beauty of the cosmos tangible.
Science communication is one of the most important and undervalued fields in the world. The data visualisation, science literacy, and creative communication skills you develop here are valuable in astronomy, science journalism, and education.
What you'll walk away knowing how to do
This project isn't about memorising facts. It's about building capabilities that transfer — to your next project, your next class, and beyond.
Learn from people who do this for a living
You're not learning from a textbook. You're learning from practitioners.
Puragra (Raja) GuhaThakurta
Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, UCSC
Professor Raja GuhaThakurta is a Distinguished Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz and an Astronomer with the University of California Observatories. He studies galaxy formation and evolution by analyzing stellar populations, integrated light, and globular clusters in systems from the Milky Way and its...
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