The Postal Service released new Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express stamps on Feb. 24.
Both stamps feature extreme-high-definition images captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
Crab Nebula, the Priority Mail stamp, shows the remnant of a massive star’s explosion, or supernova. The nebula, which is a vast cloud of gas and dust, is 6,500 light-years from Earth, situated in the constellation Taurus.
The supernova was so bright that in 1054 A.D. astronomers in China and Japan documented it being visible for weeks — even during daytime. The remains of that explosion have since expanded, with a rapidly spinning neutron star, or pulsar, at its center.
The image shown on the stamp shows previously unseen details and offers new insights into how supernova remnants influence their surroundings.
The stamp’s denomination of $11.95 is shown along the bottom left edge and is the same price as a Priority Mail Flat-Rate envelope. It is issued in a pane of four stamps.
Galaxy Pair, the Priority Mail Express stamp, shows two interacting galaxies located approximately 80 million light-years from Earth.
Scientists say the smaller galaxy to the left, IC 2163, “slithered” behind the larger one at right, NGC 2207, a few million years ago.
The stamp’s composite image provides a peek into the dynamic forces and processes shaping the universe, including how stars are formed.
The stamp’s denomination of $33.25 also appears along the bottom left edge and is the same price as a Priority Mail Express Flat-Rate envelope. It is issued in a pane of four stamps.
Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed both stamps.
The Crab Nebula Priority Mail stamp and Galaxy Pair Priority Mail Express stamp are available at Post Offices and on usps.com.
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