The NASA James Webb Space Telescope, a groundbreaking achievement in science and astronomy, has inspired the United States Postal Service (USPS) to issue an exclusive series of stamps.
Released in January, the two new stamps showcase some of the most captivating images captured by the telescope. One stamp features the spiral galaxy NGC 628, located 32 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Pisces. The image, utilizing a combination of near and mid-infrared wavelengths, reveals glowing gas and dust in vibrant shades of orange and red, alongside spiraling structures with jagged edges.
The other stamp displays the central region of the star cluster IC 348, situated in the Perseus constellation, approximately 1,000 light-years away. The hazy veil in the image represents interstellar material reflecting starlight, creating a nebula-like appearance.
“James Webb transforms science into art, producing deep-space images filled with valuable scientific data. These images will be studied for decades,” said NASA's Science Mission Directorate Assistant Administrator, Niki Fox.
“NASA's science is literally everywhere. These stamps allow everyone to hold a piece of the cosmos. I am particularly thrilled that my favorite image—the spiral galaxy NGC 628—appears on a stamp. You will travel to the depths of the universe even while mailing letters,” Fox added.
The stamps open a window for the public to appreciate the beauty of space and learn about revolutionary scientific discoveries. They also illustrate the leading technologies that enabled these discoveries and inspire a new generation of researchers.
Launched in 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope is designed to explore the early universe, the evolution of galaxies, and the processes of star and planet formation.
This is not the first time USPS has printed images captured by the telescope. Last year, the USPS released a series of Priority Mail Express stamps featuring images of the Pillars of Creation.
Previously, we reported on how astronomers uncovered the secrets of small red dots in James Webb images.