The United States Postal Service and Cranbrook Institute of Science invite you to attend a special ceremony for the Total Eclipse of the Sun Forever Stamp. This event is free and open to the public.
The Total Eclipse of the Sun Forever stamp is the first-of-its-kind application of thermochromatic ink on a stamp. The image changes by using the heat of a finger. In this case, the eclipse image transforms into an image of the Moon. Once cooled, the image reverts back to the eclipse.
The stamp image is a photograph taken by astrophysicist Fred Espenak, aka Mr. Eclipse, of Portal, AZ, that shows a total solar eclipse seen from Jalu, Libya; on March 29, 2006. Espenak also took the photograph of the full moon. Art director Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, VA, designed the stamp.
A total solar eclipse has not been visible from the continental United States since February of 1979, so for nearly 40 years, eclipse chasers of the US have had to go abroad to witness these spectacular events. That changes on August 21 when the moon’s shadow will streak across the countryside from Oregon to South Carolina.
The Total Eclipse of the Sun stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp, which is always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
Eclipse glasses are now available for purchase in the Science Shop and will be available during the Eclipse event on August 21.