2021 Sun Science
Pictures different details of our sun along with phenomena associated with it
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Value: First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: June 18, 2021
First Day City: Greenbelt, Maryland
Quantity Issued: 18,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Flexographic, Foil Stamping
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor, block tag
Why the stamps were issued: Showcases the powerful and mysterious science behind the functioning of our sun.
About the stamp designs: Includes 10 stamp designs picturing colorized images from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Each color represents a different wavelength that reveals or highlights a particular aspect of our sun.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at Greenbelt Main Post Office. It was originally to be held at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, but was moved due to observance of the Juneteenth Federal Holiday and the facility being closed.
History the stamp represents: Scientists have been studying the Sun for almost all of human history. We have learned so much about the star in the center of our solar system, and yet, there is still a lot that remains a mystery.
In 2021, the USPS issued a set of 10 Forever stamps honoring Sun Science. Each design pictures a different phenomenon exhibited by our Sun. These include: coronal holes, coronal loops, solar flares, the active Sun, plasma blasts, and sunspots. Coronal holes, coronal loops, solar flares, and plasma blasts are all pictured on two stamps, while the active Sun and sunspots are pictured on one each.
The Sun is the only reason life on Earth is possible. It provides us with light, warmth, and the energy we need to power our world. We are only just beginning to understand how to capture that energy and put it to use. Solar panels are becoming more popular, but as of 2021, even the most advanced could only capture about 22% of the solar energy we are exposed to. Even if their efficiency stayed the same, scientists calculated that the world’s current electricity needs could be met by solar energy alone. It would require just 3.27% of the US to be covered with solar panels. Considering how much power these panels generate with just 22%, imagine what we could do with 50% or more!
