# 5600 - 2021 First-Class Forever Stamp - Sun Science: Solar Flare
US #5600
2021 Solar Flare – Sun Science
- Pictures a solar flare on our sun
- One of 10 stamps in the Sun Science set
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Sun Science
Value: 55¢ 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 stamp was issued: To showcase the powerful and mysterious science behind the functioning of our sun.
About the stamp design: Pictures a colorized images from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory of a solar flare. According to NASA, the color of this stamp represents an image of the sun as viewed with “extreme ultraviolet wavelength 335 Angstroms.”
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.
About the Sun Science set: Includes 10 stamp designs picturing different details of our sun along with phenomena associated with it. Each design pictures a colorized image from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. The different colors represent a different wavelength that reveals or highlights a particular aspect of our sun.
History the stamp represents: Our Sun is the most powerful force in the solar system. It measures approximately 864,000 miles in diameter and is made up of intensely hot plasma. It is the light and heat given off by this plasma that makes life on Earth possible.
Even before humans understood what the Sun was, it was always recognized as extremely important. In fact, many early cultures worshipped it as a god. Later on, the predictability of the Sun’s path gave rise to the development of history’s first calendars. One of those calendars, the Gregorian, is what we continue to use to this day.
Scientists can’t say for sure how the Sun was formed, but the most likely scenario is that it was triggered by a shockwave from a nearby supernova (exploding star). Scientists were able to make this hypothesis by analyzing the elements present within our solar system. Since supernova explosions generally scatter heavy elements like gold and uranium – present in high quantities in our solar system – that is most likely what sparked the formation of the Sun.
It's amazing to think about how much we’ve learned about the Sun throughout human history. Just imagine how many of its secrets we have yet to uncover!
US #5600
2021 Solar Flare – Sun Science
- Pictures a solar flare on our sun
- One of 10 stamps in the Sun Science set
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Sun Science
Value: 55¢ 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 stamp was issued: To showcase the powerful and mysterious science behind the functioning of our sun.
About the stamp design: Pictures a colorized images from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory of a solar flare. According to NASA, the color of this stamp represents an image of the sun as viewed with “extreme ultraviolet wavelength 335 Angstroms.”
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.
About the Sun Science set: Includes 10 stamp designs picturing different details of our sun along with phenomena associated with it. Each design pictures a colorized image from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. The different colors represent a different wavelength that reveals or highlights a particular aspect of our sun.
History the stamp represents: Our Sun is the most powerful force in the solar system. It measures approximately 864,000 miles in diameter and is made up of intensely hot plasma. It is the light and heat given off by this plasma that makes life on Earth possible.
Even before humans understood what the Sun was, it was always recognized as extremely important. In fact, many early cultures worshipped it as a god. Later on, the predictability of the Sun’s path gave rise to the development of history’s first calendars. One of those calendars, the Gregorian, is what we continue to use to this day.
Scientists can’t say for sure how the Sun was formed, but the most likely scenario is that it was triggered by a shockwave from a nearby supernova (exploding star). Scientists were able to make this hypothesis by analyzing the elements present within our solar system. Since supernova explosions generally scatter heavy elements like gold and uranium – present in high quantities in our solar system – that is most likely what sparked the formation of the Sun.
It's amazing to think about how much we’ve learned about the Sun throughout human history. Just imagine how many of its secrets we have yet to uncover!