You have just one week left to enter the BBC Science Focus draw an alien competition!
To help you get inspired, we asked astrobiologist Dr Arik Kershenbaum to explain what we know about life on Earth in answer to the question: What do aliens look like? Using these zoology tips, you should think about what your extraterrestrial lifeform would look like based on where it will live, what it will eat and how it will move around.
More articles to help with your entry:
- Alien life in our Solar System: 5 best places to look
- Did we find signs of alien life in the clouds of Venus? Here’s what the experts say
- The weird worlds alien life could potentially survive on
To enter the competition, you must share your drawing with us on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #MyAlienForSF, or you can send in a photo of your alien to reply@sciencefocus.com with MyAlienForSF in the subject line of the email. Click here for the competition terms and conditions.
Entries must be received by 5 January 2021.*
Entries to the competition so far
We’ve had some fantastic entries already, and some of you have been kind enough to let us share them with the world:
Rian, age 7, Ireland

Rian drew this alien after reading the December issue of BBC Science Focus Magazine.
Dorothy, Cambridgeshire

Fionnabhair, age 6, Ireland

Jasmine, age 45, Kent

Jasmine says: “I’m 45 (going on 5 and three-quarters!) and live in Kent. I love robots, cats, Buster Keaton and animation. The title of this piece is Three Eyed Cat Alien with Flying Saucer of Milk.”
Ana, 14

Over on social media…
#MyAlienForSF
From Sophia age 10 pic.twitter.com/0eP1HJ6N0Q— Robert Murphy (@rameirerob) December 17, 2020
Lewis' Alien drawing to hopefully win some @daraobriain books #myalienforsf pic.twitter.com/vtxuFK0ojT
— Scott MacKellar (@scootymack75) December 19, 2020
#myalienFORSF
By A.R.T.
Ashleigh-Rose Taylor Age 8 pic.twitter.com/27f5ww7nd3— Nigel W Taylor (@Jokiwilson) December 15, 2020
@daraobriain is heading up an alien picture competition for kids. I wanted to call it Debbie the Devourer, but he wasn't having any of it. #MyAlienForSF pic.twitter.com/b32welkdJS
— John Campbell (@johncampbell01) December 21, 2020
@sciencefocus #MyAlienForSF Isaac Munt, aged 9, drew this for the alien competition. pic.twitter.com/9AciqpOsrc
— Neil Fenby (@Neil_Fenby) December 18, 2020
#MyAlienForSF Please find my children’s entries for your drawing an alien competition below!
Thomas (7yrs) – The ‘Aldonkadoodleandashamasealyasa’ and Jasmine (8yrs) ‘The three eyed fluffy doodle’. pic.twitter.com/HAu63dt8Jp
— Mark Skerritt (@MarkSkerritt) December 18, 2020
#myalienforsf pic.twitter.com/uB9Vpqw03d
— Nigel W Taylor (@Jokiwilson) December 15, 2020
@scholasticuk @daraobriain #MyAlienForSF pic.twitter.com/4MlQ8Ue4hC
— lovely laura hayes (@lovelylaurahaye) December 21, 2020
Your entry
Not sent us your alien design yet? You have until 5 January 2021 to share your drawing with us on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #MyAlienForSF, or you can send in a photo of your alien to reply@sciencefocus.com with MyAlienForSF in the subject line of the email.
Good luck!