NASA’s Webb takes flight on stamps: US Postal Service celebrates space telescope

The US Postal Service (USPS) has unveiled two new postage stamps featuring stunning images from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. Millions of letters and packages nationwide will soon bear these views of distant cosmic landscapes.

NASA’s first of new stamps – Priority Mail Express

The new Priority and Priority Express stamps showcase Webb's iconic "Pillars of Creation" and "Cosmic Cliffs" images. These depict star-forming regions sculpted by stellar nurseries light-years away.

"Webb's captivating images represent the intersection of science, engineering, and art as it reveals the greatest secrets of our cosmos," said NASA's Nicola Fox. "With these stamps, people across America can have their snapshot of Webb’s groundbreaking discoveries at their fingertips."

See pics here… 

Two new stamps celebrate our @NASAWebb space telescope.

The @USPS Priority Mail stamps feature two new images of the Cosmic Cliffs and the Pillars of Creation to honor Webb's achievements as it explores the wonders of the cosmos. https://t.co/6tOydjhkGd pic.twitter.com/Q7klN3Bh1i

— NASA (@NASA) January 22, 2024

According to NASA, the first of the new stamps, a Priority Mail Express stamp features Webb's look at the "Cosmic Cliffs" in the Carina Nebula, located 7,600 light-years away. It reveals previously obscured stellar nurseries and individual stars. This full-color image demonstrated Webb's ability to see through cosmic dust.

The Priority Mail stamp showcases the Pillars of Creation, made famous by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Webb’s view shows pillars flush with gas and dust, enshrouding slowly forming stars. This landscape lies within the Eagle Nebula, 6,500 light-years away.

Previous cosmic USPS stamps

These aren't the first cosmic USPS stamps. In 2022, a Forever stamp featured Webb itself, sparking public excitement about the engineering marvel. The new stamps continue that tradition by spotlighting Webb’s awe-inspiring science capabilities.

Astronomers say Webb's ultra-detailed observations will transform our understanding of star and planet formation, stellar lifecycles, and the evolution of galaxies themselves.

These images represent the beginning of a new era in astronomy. The public can now share in the journey of discovery through these stamps on their mail. It symbolizes how space science connects all people across the cosmos.