GREENBELT, MD — The U.S. Postal Service issued the Sun Science postage stamps today. The Forever stamps were dedicated during a ceremony at the Greenbelt Main Post Office and are now for sale at Post Offices nationwide.
“We hope these amazing stamps will help generate the same sense of wonder and curiosity about our star that inspired our ancestors and the scientists at NASA to want to understand the sun, space better, and the myriad of possibilities that exist in our solar system, in our universe and beyond,” said Thomas J. Marshall, the Postal Service’s general counsel and executive vice president, and the stamp ceremony’s dedicating official.
The Postal Service highlights stunning images of the sun that celebrate the science behind the ongoing exploration of our nearest star.
Printed with a foil treatment that adds a glimmer to the stamps, the images on these stamps come from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, a spacecraft launched in February 2010 to keep a constant watch on the sun from geosynchronous orbit above Earth. As a result, the striking colors in these images do not represent the actual colors of the sun as perceived by human eyesight. Instead, each image is colorized by NASA according to different wavelengths that reveal or highlight specific features of the sun’s activity.
One of the stamps highlights sunspots, two feature images of coronal holes, two show coronal loops, two depict plasma blasts, one is a view of an active sun that emphasizes its magnetic fields, and two show different views of a solar flare.
Heliophysics, the study of the sun and its influence on the planets and space surrounding them, has important implications for our day-to-day lives. Although the space between the sun and Earth appears empty to human eyes, it is full of particles and energy from the constant flow of solar wind emitted by the sun. In addition, that space is affected by a complex, ever-changing magnetic field that influences our entire solar system. Increased understanding of the sun helps us better explain and predict its impact on Earth’s climate and the near-Earth space environment and how it affects sensitive human technology, such as communications systems and satellite electronics. As humanity continues to explore space, a deeper knowledge of solar activity will also make it possible to identify and solve problems involved in communications, data collection, spacecraft and satellite design, and the effects of space radiation on the human body.
Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps from photos that NASA has colorized to correspond with the wavelengths that reveal specific features of the sun’s activity.
The Sun Science postage stamps are being issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20. These Forever postage stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1‑ounce price.
How many stamps are in a roll?
At marconisp.com, you can shop roll of stamps with American Flag designs. Here are 100 pieces for each roll of American Flag stamps. This is the standard number for a roll of USPS stamps.
For other Forever stamps selling at marconisp.com, you can get 100 pieces per pack.
Are these real Forever stamps?
Yes. Each stamp selling on marconisp.com is a real USPS Forever stamp. These stamps have been authorized by the United States Postal Service and will always be accepted for the value of a standard First-Class postage stamp, regardless of future price increases. You can trust that the Forever stamps you purchase from marconisp.com are authentic and valid for postage.
How many stamps to mail a letter?
To mail a 1 ounce letter, you only need ONE Forever postage stamp. But if you only have postcard stamps, TWO postcard stamps are required to mail a 1 ounce letter. By the way, ONE postcard stamp is sufficient for mailing a postcard
It’s important to note that the weight of the letter, as well as the dimensions and destination, can affect the number of stamps required. Therefore, it’s recommended to use the USPS postage calculator or consult with a postal clerk for the most accurate postage rates.